Legendary sportscaster Bob Costas criticized racial prejudice among WNBA fans in light of incidents involving rookies Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese.
During their teams’ first meeting of the WNBA season, Reese’s teammate Chennedy Carter checked Clark’s body and caused quite a reaction.
While many complained that opponents were targeting the rookie sensation, Costas highlighted the lack of outrage when Reese received a worse foul on May 25. While going for a rebound, Connecticut Sun player Alyssa Thomas grabbed the former LSU star by her neck; as a result, Reese slammed her back into the hardwood.
“The reason that doesn’t generate as much conversation is not just because Caitlin Clark is a bigger star than Alyssa Thomas,” Costas said on CNN on Monday.
“It’s because it’s a Black on Black incident, and you don’t have that dynamic that people can comment on, yes, but also exaggerate and sometimes make up the whole story.”
Bob Costas criticized racial bias in the WNBA while offering bold vision for CNN
Costas cited outrage after Chennedy Carter of Chicago searched Caitlin Clark’s body.
Thomas’ foul on Reese resulted in a flagrant 2 and an ejection, which Costas pointed out in the same segment. On the other hand, Carter was charged with a common misdemeanor after aggressively slamming her shoulder into Clark’s back.
Cari Champion, who was also in the segment, praised Costas for recognizing the problem and added emphasis to his argument.
“No one in the WNBA cared when women of a certain color were hitting and hurting each other because it’s been happening since the league’s inception,” Champion said.
‘We have the star, this person that people love. They want to protect it, so now new fans, new analysts and new people have a lot to say.’
“I’ve seen it in all sports,” Costas responded. “A newcomer is tested and to some extent resented.”
Angel Reese took a hard fall after being fouled by Connecticut’s Alyssa Thomas in May.
Costas cited how fans didn’t feel the same outrage toward Reese as they did toward Clark.
Carter’s foul on Clark gained another layer when a clip showed Reese getting up and cheering on her teammate after the body check.
Clark and Reese shared a heated rivalry in the NCAA while playing for Iowa and LSU, respectively. The pair went 1-1 in postseason meetings, with Reese taking the lead in the championship game in 2023. On the other hand, Clark defeated LSU with a 41-point performance in the Elite 8 in April before losing to South Carolina in the title game.
However, Clark’s scoring prowess launched her to stardom and eventually the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft. Following her entrance, Clark took the WNBA’s viewership and fan base to new heights.
Despite his immediate impact, not everyone was happy, with some crying out “favoritism” from the league toward their new star.
Reese was seen applauding Carter after she fouled Clark in their first WNBA matchup.
Clark and Reese shared a heated rivalry in college while playing for Iowa and LSU, respectively.
Amid the discussions and debates surrounding Clark and the league, ESPN’s Pat McAfee weighed in with his opinion.
“Call it what it is, there’s a white bitch that’s a superstar,” McAfee urged members of the media.
After pointing out all the positives and accomplishments Clark achieved during his college career, McAfee shut down the racial narrative surrounding Clark’s popularity.
‘We have to listen to people say that we only like her because she is white. That’s a load of nonsense,” she added. “We think the WNBA, more specifically the referees, need to stop screwing her up every shift. What you have is something special and we’re lucky she’s here.