Sheryl Swoopes continued her trend of snubbing Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark, and fans are not happy.
Clark is averaging 19.5 points, 8.4 assists and 5.7 rebounds on the season and has set several WNBA records, including the all-time single-season assists mark.
However, those accolades are evidently not enough for WNBA legend Swoopes to consider Clark dominant, as she downplayed the rookie’s excellent start to her career after hearing her season averages in the Gil’s Arena Podcast.
“These are impressive figures, but for me they are not the most important ones,” he said.
Swoopes, who has a history of apparent bias against Clark, came under fire for her latest comments.
Sheryl Swoopes doesn’t think Caitlin Clark is dominating the WNBA in her rookie year
Clark is averaging 19.5 points and set the WNBA single-season record in her first attempt.
‘Swoopes should not be given airtime, her value is zero and people just keep emboldening her with a paycheck,’ one fan said. saying in X.
“She should just shut up at this point. She’s already proven she’s not a fan,” said another. saying.
A different fan intervened“Give it up, Swoopes. What the hell is your problem? You’re looking stupider every day.”
And another user X Branded The four-time WNBA champion is “a bitter person” who is “killed by envy.”
Largely because of Clark, the Fever clinched a playoff berth and the team is 9-4 since the WNBA resumed its Olympic break last month.
But Swoopes couldn’t bring herself to mention the former University of Iowa star when referencing the team that won its first two games of the restart on the Queens of the Court podcast, while name-checking Lexie Hull, Kelsey Mitchell and Aaliyah Boston.
Caitlin Clark has been on a roll since the WNBA resumed after its Olympic break.
Stephen A. Smith caught wind of those comments and criticized Swoopes for his “crazy” portrayal of Clark.
“With all due respect, Sheryl Swoopes, do you have any idea how that makes you look good? Do you have any idea how that serves to taint any kind of criticism of Caitlin Clark? Because it gives fodder to those who believe that she is being hated and excluded to some degree,” he said on the show. The Stephen A. Smith Showby Terrible announcement.
“Do you realize, Sheryl Swoopes, that you are crazy for doing that? Let me tell you why you are crazy for doing that. Because, Sheryl Swoopes, you are one of the greatest players in the history of basketball, that’s why.
“… You know basketball better than I do; you know basketball (better) than any of the experts,” he continued. “You know basketball better than most men who play basketball. There’s no way you could have accidentally missed mentioning Caitlin Clark’s name in that soliloquy you gave about Indiana Fever. Stop it.”
Smith later claimed that Swoopes, who covers the WNBA for Bally Sports Southwest, was removed from a Fever game against the Dallas Wings because she claimed the network was concerned that she was not calling the game consistently.
Swoopes also criticized Clark when he was still in college and approaching the all-time NCAA D1 scoring record.
The 53-year-old questioned on the Gil’s Arena podcast whether Clark’s record was “legitimate.” Her claim wasn’t even based on accurate information, as she believed Clark had played five seasons at Iowa (in fact, she played four).
However, Clark has had a very impressive rookie season and will look to keep his momentum going into the playoffs.
