It was supposed to be a night of pure football glory. The NFL season was about to kick off, with millions of fans counting down to the first snap. Yet just an hour before the nation’s most powerful sports league dominated screens, the WNBA made a decision that no one could have predicted — and one that, according to critics, may haunt the league for years.

A League on the Defensive

The Whitlock Factor

Cowherd’s Walk-Off

The Caitlin Clark Effect

A League Divided

What Comes Next

The Deeper Question

Conclusion: A Legacy at Risk