Lexie Brown On the Culture Shift in the WNBA Since Caitlin Clark Showed Up

The Storm's Lexie Brown has been watching the WNBA transform since the 2024 draft class arrived, and she's got some real talk about what it means for the league. The veteran, who won a championship with the Chicago Sky back in 2021, is seeing something undeniable happening around the league right now.

Money Changes Everything, Even Respect

Brown didn't pull punches when she talked to Fox News Digital about how Caitlin Clark's arrival has shifted the way people see professional women's basketball. "Has it changed how people view the WNBA? Absolutely," Brown said. "I think unfortunately, our value, the respect that we got has been directly attached to how much money we make and it's not rocket science to see that since her arrival, and the rest of that 2024 class, the WNBA has skyrocketed. I'm not gonna act like that's not a coincidence."

She's not saying that's all good or all bad. It's just the reality. The money came in, and suddenly the league is getting taken seriously in a different way. "I think that people are taking the league more seriously, I think people are taking us more seriously as professional athletes," Brown explained.

The Physicality Question

Brown has had a rough couple of seasons. She's battled Crohn's Disease and injuries that have limited her to just 40 games total since 2024, so she's been watching from the sidelines more than competing. But she's seen the conversation around how rough the 2024 draft class has had it on the court.

"Do I think there were instances of excessive physicality? For sure," Brown said when asked about the on-court play. But she also put it in perspective. "I think that happens at all leagues, to rookies, the young players, I think that's just the competitive nature of things." Her take is simple: watch the games and make up your own mind about what you're seeing.

The Storm are in the middle of something bigger than any one season. The league is changing, the stakes are higher, and Brown sees it all clearly from where she sits.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.