'What Caitlin (Clark) Has To Carry Is Very Heavy,' 'She Doesn't Need To Be Protected' — Gabby Williams Gets Blunt on Spotlight Placed on Fever Superstar Avi Shravan · Pro Football Network Sun, November 15, 2026 at 12:42 PM UTC · 3 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gabby Williams' popularity reached new heights after the Golden State Valkyries won the 2026 WNBA championship on October 31, defeating the Atlanta Dream. She was named the Finals MVP as the Valkyries became the first team in history to win a title without an All-WNBA player on their roster.
On Thursday, the Valkyries forward shared her thoughts on Caitlin Clark's status as the face of the league.
Williams joined CNBC's Alex Sherman on CNBC Television to discuss the Valkyries' championship run, the politics surrounding the W, and her future. During the segment, Sherman asked the Valkyries star for her thoughts on Clark being viewed as the face of the league and whether the Indiana Fever star needed protection.
Williams began by addressing the spotlight on other players after the signing of the new CBA in May.
"I think everyone's winning right now, right? You know, we just had this prolific CBA; you know, we're hearing a lot more stories than Caitlin's," she said.
Williams also acknowledged the pressure Clark faces as one of the league's most prominent players.
"I think what Caitlin has to carry is probably very, very heavy, and I think she herself would be the first person to say, like, she doesn't need to be protected. And I think she's just as competitive. I've played against her, and you can see that. I don't think she asks for anything to be easy, as none of us do. We're all just athletes."
She welcomed the growing attention on multiple players and storylines, saying, "But it's been great just seeing multiple stories be told, multiple women earn their praise, and just seeing the game grow collectively."
READ MORE: 'Pick Up the Phone,' 'She Would Be a Great Fit' – ESPN Legend Urges Caitlin Clark To Play Shadow GM, Floats A'ja Wilson's Teammate As Missing Piece
Clark's popularity with the Iowa Hawkeyes carried over to the WNBA after the Fever selected her with the first overall pick in the 2024 draft. Her arrival coincided with a surge in viewership and attendance, and this increased attention benefited every player in the league.
That growth has brought significant changes for WNBA players. The league introduced full-time charter flights in 2024, while the new CBA increased the salary cap from approximately $1.5 million in 2025 to $7 million in 2026.
The growing interest has also extended to games that did not feature Clark. Golden State's Game 7 victory over the Atlanta Dream averaged 3.3 million viewers, making it the most-watched postseason game in WNBA history.
The seven-game Finals averaged 1.88 million viewers, a 30% increase over the 2025 Finals, according to the league.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network .
Source: Sports
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