ESPN Mislabels Commissioner’s Cup Winner — Fans Call Out “Narrative Bias” Against Caitlin Clark

What started as a routine headline has turned into a firestorm of backlash. ESPN aired a graphic declaring the Minnesota Lynx as Commissioner’s Cup champions, despite the Indiana Fever — led by rookie sensation Caitlin Clark — securing the actual win. To make matters worse, Clark wasn’t mentioned in the opening minute of the segment.

No correction. No apology. Just silence.

Online, fans erupted with hashtags like #FeverWon, #ESPNBias, and #SayTheRightTeam, calling out what many view as an ongoing media effort to downplay Clark’s impact. One viral comment read: “They couldn’t imagine Clark winning — so they scripted the other version.”

This isn’t an isolated misstep. It follows weeks of muted praise, misrepresented performances, and narratives that subtly discredit her rise. Fans and analysts alike are accusing ESPN of discomfort — not with making mistakes, but with acknowledging Clark’s dominance.

As one postgame fan put it:
“They were ready to report her failure. They weren’t prepared to report her victory.”

But Clark? She let her 22 points — and the scoreboard — do the talking.