LOVB owner defends WNBA’s Caitlin Clark handling, sees women’s sports as investment opportunity

Chantell Preston thinks the WNBA has done a good job handling Caitlin Clark and the popularity she brought to the league.

That is ... a generous interpretation.

Preston, a healthcare entrepreneur and author of The Success Lie , is a co-founder and owner of the incoming San Francisco Signal, a League One Volleyball franchise.

She also owns a stake in LOVB, the women’s professional volleyball league.

"Caitlin Clark’s done some phenomenal things for women’s sports as a whole," Preston told OutKick.

"What Caitlin Clark has been able to do and the visibility that she’s brought to the WNBA has been invaluable to not just the WNBA, but all sports." LOVB FRANCHISE OWNER SAYS TRANSGENDER ATHLETES 'SHOULD BE ABLE TO PLAY' IN WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL Clark brought record ratings , sold-out arenas and a fan base the WNBA had spent nearly three decades trying to find.

Preston said the league didn't do everything perfectly, but she believes it handled the moment well.

"Nothing’s ever perfect," she said.

"And I think they’ve done a good job.

I think there’s still some areas of opportunity." In May, the WNBA promoted a Fever game on NBC and Peacock with a social media graphic featuring A’ja Wilson, Angel Reese, Zia Cooke and Fever guard Raven Johnson, who was averaging one point per game at the time.

Clark wasn't included.

ESPN followed in July with a six-part documentary about the WNBA’s growth .

It centered on Wilson, Napheesa Collier and DeWanna Bonner.

Clark appeared in game and All-Star footage, but the documentary didn't interview Clark or feature her in any storylines, and barely acknowledged her role in the league’s popularity boom.