Harvey Weinstein rape trial ends in mistrial after jury deadlocked

The judge in Harvey Weinstein's rape retrial declared a mistrial on Friday.

While the former Hollywood mogul has been convicted of other sex crimes on two U.S. coasts and remains behind bars, the mistrial leaves the New York rape charge in limbo after three trials.

The jury deadlocked after deliberating on whether Weinstein raped Jessica Mann in 2013.

"After hearing the testimony three separate times, and after two different juries were unable to reach a unanimous decision, maybe it’s time for the District Attorney to stop retrying the same case and focus resources on the actual crimes impacting New Yorkers every day," a spokesperson for Weinstein told Fox News Digital.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Cartel creep among 25 illegal immigrants caught turning scenic forests into lawless hideouts, police say

A sweeping multi-agency crackdown in northeast Georgia forest lands ended with the arrest of 25 illegal immigrants, including felons and an alleged cartel member, after authorities launched a dayslong operation that uncovered drugs, fugitives and suspects hiding in remote wooded areas.

The operation, dubbed "Southern Forest Trident," was carried out between May 1 and May 6 across parts of Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina by the U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations division alongside federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

In Stephens County, Georgia, authorities conducted checkpoints and aggressive patrols on remote roads surrounding forest service lands in an effort to intercept fugitives, drug traffickers and individuals living in the country illegally.

The operation brought together officers and investigators from the U.S. Forest Service, Stephens County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia State Patrol, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Department of Homeland Security and the FBI North Georgia Major Offenders Task Force.

FEDERAL AGENTS ARREST HUNDREDS AT HYUNDAI PLANT CONSTRUCTION SITE IN GEORGIA

DHS arrested 25 illegal immigrants in Stephens County, including 14 with prior felony convictions, officials said. Authorities also identified one suspect as a confirmed cartel member.

One of the most dramatic moments of the operation unfolded Tuesday afternoon when two individuals bailed from a traffic stop on Highway 365 near Rock Road and fled into wooded terrain, the Stephens County Sheriff's Office said.

Law enforcement launched a large-scale manhunt involving multiple agencies and K-9 units, including U.S. Forest Service K-9 teams, Habersham County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Bane and Stephens County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Taz.

ALLEGED FENTANYL-SMUGGLING IMMIGRANTS LEAD POLICE ON DANGEROUS CORNFIELD CHASE

Hours later, officers captured one of the suspects near Trestle Ridge Road.

Authorities identified the man as 31-year-old Minton Carreto, who officials said was wanted in the metro Atlanta area and illegally residing in the United States. The second suspect remains at large and is believed to have escaped the area entirely.

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Investigators also made multiple drug arrests during traffic stops throughout the operation, including suspects accused of possessing methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana and oxycodone.

FEDS ARREST FELON ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT AFTER SEIZING TENS OF MILLIONS IN METH STASHED IN BLACKBERRIES

Authorities said Victor Pena, 42, of Cornelia, and Kristen Sloan, 33, of Maysville, were arrested after deputies allegedly discovered methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia during a traffic stop.

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Mark Justice, 48, of Eastanollee, and Rebecca Wood, 30, of Toccoa, were also arrested after officers allegedly uncovered methamphetamine, marijuana and a glass smoking pipe inside a vehicle. Justice was additionally wanted on an outstanding Stephens County warrant, authorities said.

Investigators also arrested Dakoda Ponder, 29, of Toccoa, after deputies allegedly found cocaine and a suspected oxycodone pill during a traffic stop before he was additionally charged with DUI.

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Another arrest during the operation involved Christian Villagomez, 29, of Clarkesville, who authorities said was taken into custody on outstanding fishing violation warrants.

By the end of the operation, the U.S. Forest Service had issued 33 federal citations ranging from traffic offenses to drug violations, and Georgia State Patrol issued 58 warnings and 36 traffic citations, while Georgia DNR officers handed out multiple hunting and fishing citations, according to the sheriff's office.

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Stephens County Sheriff Rusty Fulbright praised the coordinated operation and warned that isolated forest regions can become hot spots for criminal activity if left unchecked.

"Many of these areas aren’t frequently patrolled in most counties, and crime can go unnoticed," Fulbright said in a statement. "This behavior affects our families, as well as our social and physical environments."

Fulbright said authorities remain committed to aggressive criminal interdiction efforts in rural northeast Georgia.

"We are proud to work with our federal and state partners to curb the flow of illegal drugs and other crime in Stephens County," he said. "We are working to create a safer, stronger Stephens."

Fox News Digital reached out to the U.S. Forest Service and DHS for comment.

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RNC launches multimillion-dollar election integrity push in 17 states ahead of midterms

Fresh off declaring "victory" over Virginia’s roughly $65 million redistricting ballot measure — which Republicans criticized as a "dark money"-backed gerrymander — the Republican National Committee is looking to capitalize on that momentum.

Describing the RNC as "disciplined and ruthless," Chairman Joe Gruters revealed that the committee launched a multimillion-dollar election integrity push ahead of the 2026 midterms.

The effort involves hiring directors in 17 states to recruit poll workers, poll watchers and election observers, while coordinating legal and Election Day oversight across key battlegrounds, Fox News Digital has learned.

The directors will be the legal "eyes and ears on every vote cast and counted" in every battleground these midterms, according to officials. It is all coming from the top down, echoing President Donald Trump's longstanding argument that the people counting votes are as important as those casting them.

WHERE TRUMP, GOP VS DEMOCRATS REDISTRICTING BATTLE HEADS NEXT IN WAKE OF KEY COURT RULINGS

"President Trump made it clear in 2024: secure our elections — and we haven’t let up since," Gruters said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "We’re building a ground game across the country with poll workers, poll watchers and lawyers to protect every legal ballot."

"This is a permanent, nationwide effort backed by legal muscle and disciplined operations. The RNC is all-in, year-round, to safeguard election integrity and ensure only legal votes count," he added.

The RNC is aiming to defy history in maintaining the president's party majority in the House and Senate through a midterm election.

NEW RNC CHAIR JOE GRUTERS VOWS TO 'RIDE THE PRESIDENT ALL THE WAY TO VICTORY' IN MIDTERMS

Rather than relying on high-profile national election attorneys, the RNC is turning to local legal experts in key states — a strategy officials say was key to its legal approach in Virginia, where a multimillion-dollar ballot measure ultimately failed.

The plan revolves around smart data and even artificial intelligence to feed actual, actionable intelligence in the midterm battlegrounds. And the spending and swath of the operation will expand as the conditions on the ground warrant, according to officials.

The RNC hires are part of an initial seven-figure investment and build on the 2024 election integrity operation, which officials said recruited more than 230,000 volunteers in 18 target states for poll watching, poll work and legal support, along with more than 6,000 volunteer attorneys both remotely and on the ground.

MINNESOTA FRAUD CASE IS 'CANARY IN THE COAL MINE' FOR GOVERNMENT SYSTEMS — INCLUDING ELECTIONS, LAWYER WARS

The initial "seven-figure" spend remains a "moving target," officials added, with the expectation that the investment will climb into the tens of millions nationwide.

Democrats spent comparable amounts in Virginia alone, according to critics of that effort. Republicans hope saving tens of millions will have a domino effect on the midterm battlegrounds.

Supporters argue that approach reflects fiscal responsibility and a broader strategic shift — something that seemingly left Democrat election lawyer Marc Elias publicly frustrated.

'JUSTICE': CELEBRATION, MOCKERY ERUPT AFTER SPANBERGER 'GERRYMANDER' IS BLOWN UP IN BLOCKBUSTER DECISION

"We've got the Republican National Committee waging litigation in courtrooms around the country," Elias lamented to MS NOW last month.

RNC officials pushed back, saying Elias’ "record is terrible" against them, as they outlined their next battle plan Monday.

The RNC said it will avoid hiring what it views as expensive national election attorneys who would be inexperienced and less informed on local law. The officials behind the multimillion-dollar campaign said hires "will not be names you recognize," but they are the experts in those states and districts.

DAVID MARCUS: VIRGINIA DEMOCRATS STEP ON A $70M RAKE AND NOW THEY'RE CRYING

Officials compared the strategy to long-term conservative legal efforts that ultimately led to the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade.

"Rather than lawlessly condemning SCOTUS, Dems should listen to Ari Fleischer," Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, who clerked for Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, wrote Monday night on X as Democrats were pushing what Republicans described as a likely unsuccessful U.S. Supreme Court appeal for the Virginia high court ruling.

"For decades, Republicans lived with Supreme Court rulings they didn’t like. [With] Roe v. Wade, [they] didn’t say ‘we need to rig the Supreme Court.’ They worked within the system to change the way things worked."

REPUBLICAN FUNDRAISING OUTPACES DEMOCRATS BY NEARLY DOUBLE, JUNE NUMBERS SHOW

Despite the recent gains in the courts on redistricting and criticism oscillating back to the left, the RNC has also faced criticism, particularly with regard to those upset that Democrats outspent Republicans by nearly a 3-to-1 margin on the ultimately doomed Virginia ballot measure.

RNC officials said they are unfazed by criticism, telling Fox News Digital the election integrity effort is akin to a football team’s offensive line — doing all the grunt work and none of the press.

Republicans have faced criticism for being judicious with what is estimated to be up to an $800 million war chest for the midterms, but RNC officials are signaling confidence in their approach.

"Just watch us" get results, the officials said.

REPUBLICANS SOUND ALARM ON DEMOCRATS' ‘POWER GRAB’ AS VIRGINIA VOTES ON REDISTRICTING SHAKE-UP

Defying history in helping Trump keep its congressional majority will "not be cheap" or easy, they admit. Just ask Democrats now upset in Virginia, they added.

RNC officials argued spending just a fraction and getting a narrow margin at the ballot box ultimately gave the "Virginia Supreme Court some cover" to rule the way it did.

WHERE TRUMP, GOP VS DEMOCRATS REDISTRICTING BATTLE HEADS NEXT IN WAKE OF KEY COURT RULINGS

The RNC said it led those legal challenges largely behind the scenes, with legal experts typically not seen on TV, which officials argue demonstrates how effective their quiet midterm legal ground game will be.

While there might be critics of how the RNC is spending on election integrity, the RNC officials stressed they stick to being quietly strategic and targeted in former Raiders head coach Al Davis' "just win, baby" fashion.

The RNC's initial field investment includes states such as Arizona, Georgia, Michigan and North Carolina, with officials saying the operation will cover entire states rather than only targeted congressional districts as the party builds a long-term infrastructure aimed at both the midterms and the 2028 presidential election.

GOP STRATEGISTS CALLED TO DC AS TRUMP TEAM CONFRONTS RISING MIDTERM HEADWINDS

The RNC said the new state directors will serve as the election integrity program’s "eyes and ears" on the ground, overseeing poll worker and poll watcher recruitment, coordinating with attorneys and supporting Election Day operations in battleground states.

That is the mission the RNC has accepted from the president.

Midterm elections historically have lower participation rates than presidential election years, so having legal "eyes and ears on every vote cast and counted" through this election integrity unit will take up the bulk of the RNC spending up to "eight figures," according to officials.

TRUMP ACCUSES SCHUMER OF TRYING TO 'INTERFERE IN OUR ELECTIONS' WITH LATEST STRATEGY

The move comes as Trump vowed Sunday to expand the GOP’s election integrity operation, writing on Truth Social that Republicans would again deploy an "Election Integrity Army" in 2026, but that it would be "much bigger and stronger."

Trump also criticized a Democrat-led election integrity group involving former Attorney General Eric Holder and Elias, accusing Democrats of trying to "suppress Republican voters" and "interfere in our Elections."

"The Democrats are totally unhinged, and we will not allow them to threaten the integrity of our Elections," Trump wrote.

TRUMP’S CONVINCING 2024 VICTORY SETS HOUSE GOP UP FOR HOMEFIELD ADVANTAGE IN 2026 MIDTERM ELECTIONS

"During my Historic Election in 2024, when I won every single Swing State, and decisively won both the Electoral and Popular votes by wide margins, the Republicans had an Election Integrity Army in every single State to preserve the sanctity of each legal vote," he wrote. "We will be doing the same again in 2026, but it will be much bigger and stronger. All Americans should have their voices be heard by casting a vote. Be assured this Election will be fair!"

SCOOP: HOUSE GOP CAMPAIGN ARM LAUNCHES ‘MAGA MAJORITY’ PROGRAM TO BOOST TRUMP-ALIGNED CANDIDATES

Gruters said Sunday the RNC had deployed its first wave of field staff to 17 battleground states to turn out voters he says are needed to win the midterms.

"We’re building the ground game to win, protect our majorities in the House and Senate, and give President Trump a full four years," Gruters wrote.

In a separate post, Gruters said the RNC is "aggressively fundraising and deploying staff to battleground states across the country to get out the vote and secure our elections," adding the committee is being "disciplined and ruthless" to make its resources count and stop Democrats from retaking Congress in November.

GOP OUTPERFORMED DEMS ON VOTER REGISTRATION IN KEY BATTLEGROUND STATES, NEW ANALYSIS REVEALS

The RNC kept its election integrity program intact after the 2024 election and is now expanding poll worker recruitment in 17 target states while also growing operations in non-target states. The committee said it is currently involved in more than 130 active election integrity cases across 30 states.

That included involvement in legal challenges related to the Virginia Supreme Court, which struck down a voter-approved redistricting measure that Republicans had criticized as a gerrymander, in a decision delivered Friday.

"Hey @JamesBlairUSA where are all the people attacking us for not spending enough in Virginia?" Trump's 2024 campaign co-manager Chris LaCivita wrote Friday on X, directing his slam dunk on critics to the White House deputy chief of staff who is transitioning to leading the midterm operation.

"Oh yea …they are laughing at Dems for wasting $60 million #wannabees," he wrote.

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Left-wing governor ripped for ‘insane’ answer on whether he’d support minor son’s gender transition

Democratic Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is facing social media backlash after saying during an interview he would support his underage son if he wanted to transition his gender identity. 

"Maryland Governor Wes Moore says he would let his son go through gender mutilation as a minor if he wanted to," RNC Research posted to X on May 7, accompanied by footage of the clip.

Moore, a prominent Democratic governor who has repeatedly clashed with Trump, has signed measures positioning Maryland as a haven for transgender rights and gender-transition care. He was asked a hypothetical question regarding his own son during a discussion on a podcast with American businessman Patrick Bet-David last week. 

"Your son comes in saying he wants to transition, what do you do," Bet-David asked Moore on his "PBD Podcast." 

HOSPITALS WARNED THEY MUST PROTECT CHILDREN FROM CHEMICAL AND SURGICAL MUTILATION: HHS AGENCY MEMO

"If this is a journey that he wants to go down, um I want him to always be comfortable in his own skin," Moore responded, saying his son would always have his "undying love." 

Bet-David pressed Moore on the question, asking whether he would still support his son if he were a minor. Moore said he would. 

"I want him to feel safe in his own skin, safe in his own decision-making, but also know that, at 14 years old, I want to be involved inside of that process as well," said Moore. "I’m not going to condemn him nor castigate him, I’m not going to kick him out of the house. I’m not going to do anything that’s going to hurt him, but I just want to make sure that I’m involved."

However, Moore — a father of two children under 18 — said it would be "deeply unfair" to allow a child to go on puberty blockers, indicating he would not permit his own son to do so.

Social media commenters unleashed on Moore for appearing to support minors making life-altering decisions.

"That's not empathy. That's insanity. As a parent, you are called to guide your children toward the right decisions, not to affirm life-altering destructive ones. This speaks to Gov Wes Moore sacrificing his own child on the altar of woke transgenderism," wrote Maryland Freedom Caucus vice chair Kathy Szelgia on X.

PARENTS MUST STAY ALERT AS PUBLIC SCHOOLS HIDE LIFE-ALTERING DECISIONS FROM FAMILIES

"There is a 0% chance he believes this. But this is how insane the Democrat party is," said Outkick founder Clay Travis.

"This is the man trusted to run Maryland.  Just thought you should know where he stands," write the account Blue Lives Matter.

"INSANE: Maryland Governor Wes Moore says he would let his 12-year-old son go through gender mutilation as a minor if he wanted to," conservative commentator Steve Guest posted in response. 

"A child who can’t smoke, buy alcohol, vote and whose frontal lobe doesn’t fully develop till their mid 20’s is suddenly capable of rationally electing to permanently mutilate their body for the rest of their life," wrote an X user. "Wes Moore has no business being an elected official."

DETRANSITIONER CHLOE COLE SHARES COMPLICATIONS AFTER GENDER PROCEDURES: 'I AM GRIEVING'

"Good to know that you wouldn't kick him out of the house, disown him, or hurt him. Next Question: Would the administration of puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones be hurting him," asked another user.

The administration has taken a very strong stance against gender mutilation and puberty blockers following an executive order last year.

In December, the Department of Health and Human Services rolled out a series of policy updates and regulatory actions that would effectively defund hospitals that provide gender transition procedures,

Fox News Digital reached out to the Office of Governor Wes Moore and the White House for comment.

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Costco fans erupt after beloved food court item replaced by high-calorie newcomer

Costco’s new chicken tenders are gaining attention online — but shoppers aren’t exactly sold.

A TikTok video showing the oversized tenders has racked up thousands of views, with users reacting to both the portion size and calorie count. The video, filmed at a Costco location in Schaumburg, Illinois, shows a five-piece order priced at $6.99.

The item has appeared at select Costco locations across the U.S., with some customers noting it may be replacing the calzone at certain stores.

COSTCO SHOPPERS RAVE ABOUT 'DELICIOUSLY ADDICTIVE' SUMMER TREAT THAT'S GONE VIRAL

It is unclear how widely the tenders are available or whether Costco plans a nationwide rollout.

Chicken tenders are not entirely new to Costco, however. The item has been available at some international locations, including Canada and Australia, in recent years, food-focused publication TastingTable reported.

The meal includes several large chicken tenders served with dipping sauce, quickly drawing buzz across social media as customers share photos.

COSTCO WORKER REVEALS BAKED GOODS AREN’T SOLD HOT TO PREVENT CONDENSATION THAT CAN LEAD TO MOLD GROWTH AND SHORTEN SHELF LIFE

The reaction online, however, has been mixed.

Some shoppers questioned what the tenders might be replacing.

"What did they get rid of? The calzone?" one user asked.

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Fox News Digital reached out to Costco for comment.

Others focused less on the menu change and more on the calorie count.

The TikTok video shows the tenders total 1,640 calories, prompting strong reactions from viewers and questions about how the number could be so high.

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Some shoppers speculated the dipping sauce may be responsible for a large portion of the calories.

Still, not everyone was critical.

"Those look amazing," one user wrote, while others said they were eager to try the item if it expands to more locations.

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Fox News Digital previously reported that Costco recently reintroduced churros in a new format, though the change drew mixed reactions from shoppers.

Instead of the traditional full-size pastry, the retailer rolled out a caramel churro sundae topped with smaller churro pieces.

Some longtime customers expressed disappointment, saying they preferred the original version that had been a staple for years.

Others welcomed the update, noting that Costco frequently rotates items on its food court menu depending on demand and availability.

Deirdre Bardolf of Fox News Digital contributed reporting.

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Ex-'Scream' star fired for anti-Israel rant agrees that co-stars who returned to the new film are 'scabby'

A former "Scream" star who was fired after speaking out against Israel is now blasting her ex-castmates for returning to the horror franchise, agreeing they are "scabby" for moving forward without her.

"One hundred percent [they were scabby]. I think they all are," the anti-Israel actress Melissa Barrera told Variety.

"And they have to live with that," she added, in comments that could be directed at cast members Mason Gooding and Jasmin Savoy Brown. They starred with Barrera in the fifth and sixth "Scream" movies. Gooding and Savoy Brown, unlike Barrera, returned for part seven. 

"The only way they were able to make that movie after what happened was to nostalgia-bait as much as possible," Barrera said.

MATTHEW LILLARD DROPS F-BOMBS ON ICE AT LOS ANGELES 'SCREAM' SCREENING EVENT WHILE PROMOTING BALLOT MEASURE

Variety writer Marlow Stern asked, "You were fired from ‘Scream 7.’ Jenna Ortega didn’t return. The director dropped out. But then Spyglass brought back cast members from the prior ‘Scream’ films. Did that seem scabby to you? Did it feel like those were people basically crossing the picket line?"

This prompted Barrera to reply, "Oh, one hundred percent." 

Representatives for Savoy Brown and Gooding did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

Barrera was dropped from the horror franchise in late 2023 following backlash over her social media posts about the Israel–Hamas war, including statements in which she accused Israel of genocide amid its response to the Oct. 7 attacks.

One of Barrera's multiple posts on the war read, "Gaza is currently being treated like a concentration camp. Cornering everyone together, with no where to go, no electricity no water … People have [learned] nothing from our histories. And just like our histories, people are still silently watching it all happen. THIS IS GENOCIDE & ETHNIC CLEANSING."

At the time of her firing, Spyglass Media Group told Variety that Barrera’s social media posts crossed a line, stating it has "zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any form, including false references to genocide, ethnic cleansing, Holocaust distortion or anything that flagrantly crosses the line into hate speech."

JAMIE KENNEDY DEFENDS ANTI-ISRAEL ACTRESS FROM CANCELLATION, SAYS STARRING IN PRO-LIFE FILM CHANGED HIM

Barrera fired back shortly after, rebuking the suggestion that her actions constituted antisemitism or the "incitement of hate."

"I believe a group of people are not their leadership and that no governing body should be above criticism. I pray day and night for no more deaths, for no more violence and for peaceful co-existence," she told the outlet at the time.

"I will continue to speak out for those that need it most and continue to advocate for peace and safety, for human rights and freedom. Silence is not an option for me."

HOLLYWOOD STARS LIKE MAYIM BIALIK, DEBRA MESSING AMONG 1,200 BLASTING ISRAELI FILM BOYCOTT AS 'ERASURE OF ART'

Barrera’s firing was followed by further franchise shakeups, with actress Jenna Ortega declining to return and director Christopher Landon eventually stepping away from the film.

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Ortega's exit was initially chalked up to scheduling conflicts, but the actress later denied those reports, stating, "The Melissa stuff was happening, and it was all kind of falling apart. If ‘Scream VII’ wasn’t going to be with that team of directors and those people I fell in love with, then it didn’t seem like the right move for me in my career at the time."

When asked if she received messages of support from others after her firing, Barrera shook her head and said, "That's not the reality of things..."

"I got some messages of support from people in the industry, but what I found is that private messages with no action mean nothing," she added.

Variety's recent coverage explored how Barrera is working to rebuild her career in the wake of the controversy, with the actress continuing to take on new projects while reflecting on the shakeup.

Fox News' Hanna Panreck contributed to this report.

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Kevin Durant's media company says Caitlin Clark is the third most marketable WNBA player

Caitlin Clark has been a lightning rod since she entered the WNBA. She’s broken the minds of opponents and media members for years now. 

Fellow WNBA players like DiJonai Carrington have claimed her fans are racist. ESPN’s Monica McNutt has claimed her white skin is why fans are flocking to fill NBA arenas to watch her play. ESPN shockingly ranked Caitlin Clark the sixth-best rookie early in her rookie season. Even an anonymous media member decided to ruin Clark’s bid for a unanimous rookie of the year award, giving Angel Reese her solo first-place vote. Clark is no stranger to disrespect in rankings, awards, play and coverage over the years.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

On Friday, this was no different. Kevin Durant’s sports media and entertainment company, Boardroom, came out with their ranking of "The Most Marketable WNBA Players Entering This Season." Caitlin Clark should be first, right? Nope. She’s third behind reigning MVP A’ja Wilson and Dallas Wings' Paige Bueckers. Angel Reese is fourth on the list.

If we're being honest, Caitlin Clark is EASILY the most marketable WNBA player. That’s a given by any metric. So either Boardroom is being contrarian for clicks, or they're trolling us. According to Covers’ new "WNBA Marketability Index 2026" from a few days ago, Clark tops the league with a score of 83 out of 100, while Reese came in second at 80. How can Boardroom be so drastically different unless there is some sort of agenda here?

CAITLIN CLARK TOPS WNBA MARKETABILITY RANKINGS WITH ANGEL REESE CLOSE BEHIND IN NEW STUDY

I mean, come on. Every single Indiana Fever game is on national TV this season. All 44. Why? Caitlin Clark. A’ja Wilson, Angel Reese, and Paige Beuckers aren’t drawing close to that kind of interest from sports fans. The WNBA and it’s media partners know Clark’s marketability is off the charts.

The main reason the WNBA is talked about at all nowadays, and has any chance at profitability, is Caitlin Clark. She’s the golden ticket. She’s the reason the WNBA Players Association was able to force the league to pay them more money. She’s the reason teams started flying private two seasons ago. She forces teams to move to NBA arenas and sells them out. 

A’ja Wilson and Angel Reese have both come out with signature shoes. Neither of them had more buzz than Caitlin Clark’s Nike Kobe crossover. It took only about a minute for her Kobe 5 Protro Rookie of the Year shoes to sell out. Most were going for well over $350 on the secondary market, with one pair even costing $642.

CAITLIN CLARK'S INDIANA FEVER SOLD 90 TIMES MORE TICKETS ON STUBHUB IN HER ROOKIE SEASON THAN IN 2023

Caitlin Clark’s sports cards sell for exponentially more too. For example, Caitlin Clark’s 1 of 1 rookie Flawless WNBA logowoman card sold for a whopping $660,000, while Angel Reese’s highest sports card sale, her 1 of 1 rookie Immaculate WNBA logowoman, sold for less than 5% of Clark’s ($30,000).

Caitlin Clark is the Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan of the WNBA. She’s a transcendent star, who will go down as potentially the most impactful and influential female sports star in American sports. She’s that popular. She moves the needle that much.

If we wanted to have a conversation about who is a better player between Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark, we can have that conversation. Both are rookie of the year award winners. Both had impressive college careers, though Bueckers' was derailed by injury. Paige Bueckers may be on countless commercials ranging from Gatorade to Carmax, but acting as if she is more marketable than Clark, is laughable.

I don’t know what metrics Boardroom was pulling from as they compiled this list, but it's getting lambasted online, rightfully so. This is par for the course for the media, though. Reese was put on the cover of the NBA 2K26: WNBA Edition over Clark. Reese and Wilson were on the cover of the Wall Street Journal over Clark after she won Rookie of the Year. 

The Indiana Fever and Clark tip off their season at home on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET against the Dallas Wings and their star Paige Bueckers, alongside the No. 1 pick of the 2026 WNBA Draft, Azzi Fudd.

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