Ryan Ruocco wishes WNBA media would ‘feel comfortable being critical’ beyond Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese

ESPN announcer Ryan Ruocco has expressed a desire for WNBA media to feel more comfortable criticizing players beyond the stars Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. The league's growth in popularity, evidenced by its television viewership, has led to a surge in commentary, often focused on Clark and Reese's rivalry. Ruocco argues that for the WNBA to continue growing and attract more nuanced analysis, commentators must be willing to criticize players, not just these two stars.

Hall of Famers Candace Parker and Sue Bird have echoed Ruocco's sentiment, emphasizing that the sport's product is capable of holding its own and that media should let the basketball do the talking. While the WNBA has faced criticism and controversy since the arrival of Clark and Reese, Ruocco believes that more balanced discourse would benefit the sport's fans and the league itself.