Caitlin Clark Is So Controversial And Here's Why
Lately, pretty much everyone is paying attention to rookie WNBA sensation Caitlin Clark, who's even been compared to NBA great Michael Jordan. And it's not just idle talk. Everyone has an opinion about her. Here's why.
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00:00Lately, pretty much everyone is paying attention to rookie WNBA sensation Kaitlyn Clark, who's
00:06even been compared to NBA great Michael Jordan.
00:08And it's not just idle talk.
00:10Everyone has an opinion about her.
00:12Here's why.
00:14Kaitlyn Clark is the all-time point-getter in NCAA women's basketball, but it wasn't
00:17until Clark inked a four-year deal with the Indiana Fever that viewers with only a passing
00:21interest in women's pro basketball took notice.
00:24It's just cool to have so many people in the stands that, one, appreciate women's basketball,
00:28but they understand the history of it."
00:30And it didn't take long before the hype extended beyond the court, to the point where Clark
00:34was being used as an example of double standards and weaponized to support a variety of causes.
00:39In response, Clark told the press,
00:40"'Treating every single woman in this league with the same amount of respect, I think,
00:44it's just a basic human thing that everybody should do.'"
00:47Ahead of the 2024 WNBA draft, the odds were that the University of Iowa's Clark would
00:52be the league's top pick.
00:53They haven't sold tickets to the WNBA draft in years, and they sold out in 15 minutes."
01:01The Indiana Fever did indeed select her first, but the press paid far less attention to another
01:05stellar first-round draft pick, LSU grad Angel Reese, one of Clark's most formidable NCAA
01:11opponents.
01:12Reese was selected seventh overall by the Chicago Sky.
01:15Former WNBA superstar Cheryl Swoops seemed to question Clark's draft status when the
01:19WNBA was roughly a quarter into its season.
01:22"'Rookie of the Year' was picked today, I give it to Angel.
01:27She gonna play hard, period, no matter who they're playing."
01:31While Clark gained a legion of new admirers after joining the WNBA ranks, the old boys'
01:36mentality permeating sports media continues to be hard to shake.
01:40Take one exchange in April 2024 at an Indiana Fever media conference between Clark and Indianapolis
01:45star reporter Greg Doyle, which started when he imitated Clark's habitual heart gesture
01:49off-camera.
01:51"'I do that at my family after every game, so it's pretty cool."
01:54"'Start doing it to me and we'll get along just fine.'"
01:57Doyle's remarks sparked angry social media backlash, prompting his publication to suspend
02:02Doyle and ban him from attending the Fever's home games for the rest of the season.
02:06In a subsequent column, Doyle wrote, quote, "'Kaitlyn Clark, I'm so sorry.'"
02:09ESPN podcaster Pat McAfee tried to emphasize Clark's significance amidst a wave of strong
02:15draft picks.
02:16"'Just call it for what it is.
02:19There's one white b---- for the Indiana team, who is a superstar.'"
02:24McAfee later apologized on social media.
02:26Less repentant was Bill Maher, who attacked Clark's team for not offering support after
02:30an opponent knocked her down.
02:32"'Only women would do this.
02:33Women are catty, even the ones on her own team.'"
02:36Clark has not only become a basketball sensation, but a national treasure that must be protected,
02:41according to some of her more vocal supporters.
02:43This group includes New York Post columnist Steve Serby, who wrote,
02:46"'The last thing anyone in the WNBA should want is injuring the golden goose that lays
02:51the golden egg.'"
02:52Clark might be a holy grail of sorts, but she's hardly a shrinking violet, at least
02:55according to Swoops, who claimed the rookie regularly gets away with infractions like
02:59flopping.
03:00"'Well, I mean, if you want to talk about bullies, we can talk about each… every time
03:05Kaitlyn has the ball, she pushes off.
03:08She…
03:09I'm just saying.'"
03:11During her Iowa days, Clark was known to sometimes push other players around.
03:14Granted, basketball has always been a physical game, but even Clark's own father seemed annoyed
03:18at her on-court behavior.
03:20Tired of seeing his daughter complain about referees during an Iowa game against Holy
03:23Cross, he was seen on the sidelines, sternly mouthing at her to stop.
03:27Clark isn't just a hot topic in the WNBA because of her collegiate achievements.
03:31The Root columnist Wayne Washington wrote,
03:33"'She is the newest great white hope, a straight white woman excelling in a sport dominated
03:37by Black women.'"
03:39And noted Las Vegas Aces center Asia Wilson told the Philadelphia Citizen,
03:43"'I think a lot of people may say it's not about Black and white, but to me, it is.'"
03:47Right-wing commentator Matt Walsh piled on, expressing his problematic opinion on his
03:51podcast.
03:52"'Like the NBA has very few white players, even fewer who are stars.
03:56Anyone who champions diversity should celebrate Clark explicitly because she is white.'"
04:01But Black WNBA players are hardly celebrating, especially those being attacked on social
04:05media.
04:06In an effort to blame Clark's fans, Chicago Sky player Breonna Turner posted her feelings
04:10on X, writing,
04:11"...I've been called every racial slur imaginable lately and my teammates have had it even worse."
04:16And Turner's teammate, Angel Reese, took to social media to say,
04:19"...This really is out of control and needs to stop."
04:22In June, Clark, who has frequently shown disgust over being pulled into racial controversy,
04:27managed an air of diplomacy while addressing reporters on the issue, saying,
04:30"...People should not be using my name to push those agendas.
04:33It's disappointing.
04:34It's not acceptable."
04:36Clark fans experienced a huge letdown early in June 2024 when she wasn't chosen for the
04:40Olympic women's team.
04:41Team USA basketball officials pointed out that the dozen players selected had considerable
04:45senior team experience, something Clark lacks.
04:48That didn't stop fans and pundits alike from voicing their displeasure over the omission.
04:52On his podcast, The Herd, podcaster Colin Cowherd tried to explain,
04:56"...The women's Olympic team does not lose in the Olympics.
04:58I think they've won seven straight golds, but you wouldn't know that, cause you didn't
05:01watch.
05:02And with Clark you would."
05:03USA Today columnist Christine Brennan took the sarcastic approach, writing,
05:07"...because this great opportunity to publicize international women's basketball has been
05:11eliminated, the vast majority of broadcasters and reporters will be able to focus as they
05:15always have on the swimmers and gymnasts and runners and leave the U.S. women's basketball
05:20team alone."
05:21"...They'll cover the men's basketball team, but they won't cover the women's.
05:23That is a fact.
05:24It is part of the story."
05:26Even politicians like Ted Cruz and Nikki Haley waded into the fray, clamoring for Clark to
05:30be added to the team.
05:32But Clark herself was unfazed, telling reporters,
05:34"...Honestly, no disappointment.
05:35I think it just gives you something to work for.
05:36That's a dream.
05:37Hopefully one day I can be there."