The wish and hope would be that this would be enough, that once the world got to see Game 1 of the WNBA Finals — one of the most compelling, exciting, dramatic and competitive games to open a championship series in any sport — the narrative around the series would change. Like I said, “wish and hope.”

Even in Caitlin Clark's absence her presence is felt. That's because WNBA discourse on social media can't seem to leave her out of the conversation, even when she is not playing. This was evidenced yet again when a post by @HanaHoops went viral on X.