WNBA 'has an absolute mess on their hands' - Dan Dakich
OutKick host Dan Dakich joins Stuart Varney to break down the potential $12.5 billion sale of the Los Angeles Lakers to Kushner and Iger, the WNBA's statement on transgender eligibility, and Donald Trump's Super Bowl predictions.
Major League Baseball and Netflix almost pulled off something truly special on Thursday night.
The MLB at Field of Dreams matchup between the Philadelphia Phillies and Minnesota Twins delivered a pregame sequence that gave baseball fans chills. Watching current players from both squads emerge from the iconic Iowa cornfield alongside 26 Hall of Famers, including all-time greats like Cal Ripken Jr., Mike Schmidt, Joe Mauer and Jim Thome, was cinematic gold.
Then, Netflix cut back to the pregame desk, and the spell was instantly broken.
Whatever goodwill the entrance generated was shattered the moment lead anchor Elle Duncan started talking. Instead of letting the historic backdrop breathe, viewers got wooden delivery, forced commentary and little genuine baseball insight. Social media was unforgiving, skewering her appearance from the moment she went live.
Elle Duncan attends the Netflix 2026 Upfront red carpet at Sunset Pier 94 Studios on May 13, 2026, in New York, N.Y. (Variety via Getty Images)
"@netflix had options for the #FieldofDreamsGame and we get the insufferable Elle Duncan. Damn," one frustrated viewer posted on X.
Another echoed: "What dirt does Elle Duncan have on Netflix? Every word out of her mouth is insufferable."
The pushback isn't coming out of nowhere. Duncan has given baseball diehards plenty of reason to question her baseball chops and why Netflix continues putting her front and center for marquee events.
NETFLIX REPLACES FAN-FAVORITE FOOTBALL HOST WITH UNPOPULAR, FAR-LEFT PERSONALITY
This is the same host who, during Netflix's Opening Day broadcast from Oracle Park earlier this season, famously referred to home plate as "home base."
That broadcast drew plenty of criticism for Duncan's awkward, forced delivery, too. Thursday night wasn't exactly a course correction.
The Philadelphia Phillies and Minnesota Twins take the field before a game at Field of Dreams in Dyersville, Iowa, on Aug. 13, 2026. (Getty Images)
Beyond the terminology blunders, fans are exhausted by Duncan’s reputation for bringing lecture-heavy narratives into sports coverage.
Look no further than her recent commentary regarding WNBA star Caitlin Clark. Instead of sticking to the action on the court, Duncan opted for the soapbox: "It’s not on her to be burdened by social media clowns," she said, before adding, "As much as we would love for you to be able to just focus on that (basketball)… it’s unfortunately not your reality."
Major League Baseball set the stage, but Netflix's choice of host proved the streamer still has a long way to go in understanding what sports fans actually want to see.
Former MLB players are celebrated on the field before a game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Minnesota Twins at Field of Dreams in Dyersville, Iowa, on Aug. 13, 2026. (Getty Images)
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Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela
Alejandro Avila is a longtime writer at OutKick, living in Southern California.
