What Elle Duncan’s ‘most toxic space’ comment means for the WNBA’s future coverage originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. The WNBA has been through a stretch of off-court noise unlike anything it has faced before, and one of the broadcasters closest to the league is now saying so publicly. In an interview on WHYY's Sports In America podcast, longtime sports broadcaster Elle Duncan described the current climate around the WNBA as "the most toxic space to cover," drawing a sharp contrast between the excitement that surrounded the league's recent surge in popularity and where things stand now. Duncan hosts USA Network's pre- and postgame shows and will be part of the network's WNBA Finals coverage this fall. She has covered the league at various points throughout her career, including as host of WNBA Countdown during her time at ESPN, which makes her frustration carry some weight given she is not an outsider. Elle Duncan opens up on what changed in the WNBA for the worse Duncan recalled the early optimism that came with the WNBA's ratings growth and the arrival of a new generation of stars. "I remember how much passion, energy, and excitement there was for the attention that these women were finally getting, and the ratings, and this new crop of superstars that were going to come into the league and help elevate this game even more," she said. That feeling did not last. "Very quickly over the course of the last three years, it's just turned into a sticking point for sides to continue to politicize things that shouldn't be, to be as divisive as possible," Duncan said. "Right now, the WNBA is the most toxic space to cover, and that's incredibly frustrating and sad." She was careful not to point the finger in one direction. "It's on absolutely everybody. I know everybody that I work with is exhausted by this space right now, and I think the players included. But I do think that it's not just the media to blame, just the league to blame, or just the players. I think, collectively, we've got to put our heads together and figure out how we right this ship." Duncan also framed what is at stake, saying the league has an opportunity to celebrate a genuine moment in its history but is letting outside noise get in the way of that. According to her, conflicts of opinion outside the court have made the league reach the new height of unsteadiness in its time of history. Controversies driving the exhaustion in WNBA The 2026 WNBA season has not been short on flashpoints. A June incident involving Alyssa Thomas and Caitlin Clark drew significant attention after Thomas made contact with Clark's neck during a loose-ball scramble. Officials did not call a flagrant foul in the moment, but the league later upgraded it to a Flagrant 2 and suspended Thomas one game. The response that followed covered referee inconsistency, physicality in the league, and Clark's own call for full-time officiating. The debate around transgender athletes in women's sports also intensified this season. Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham publicly stated her position on the issue, and her comments triggered a prolonged back-and-forth that drew in fans, media, and outside voices well beyond the sport itself. Cunningham's name was eventually banned from the WNBA subreddit, which only extended the story further. Duncan has been vocal on the Caitlin Clark dimension of this specifically. In a separate appearance on The Sports Gossip Show podcast, she said the coverage environment around Clark had become paralyzing for journalists. "What you're doing is you're paralyzing people. They want to avoid it altogether, or they want to sort of play both sides, because they're just afraid of the backlash they're going to get," Duncan said. Clark herself told ESPN over All-Star Weekend that the constant coverage had become "emotionally exhausting." The controversies CHANGE from week to week, but the cumulative effect is what Duncan is describing. A league that entered this period with real momentum now has broadcasters, journalists, and players all saying publicly that covering it has become draining. Duncan's comments are notable not because they are surprising, but because she is willing to say it plainly and include everyone in the responsibility. More WNBA news:
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