Stephen A. Smith calls WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes ‘insane’ for Caitlin Clark shade
A WNBA legend has criticized Caitlin Clark, and Stephen A. Smith isn’t happy about it.
The Indiana Fever rookie has been incredibly successful since the WNBA returned from a month-long Olympics, scoring 23 and 29 points in her team’s two games behind the scenes.
But when Sheryl Swoopes discussed Fever’s recent development on the “Queens of the Court” podcast, she somehow didn’t mention Clark at all.
“I think the Olympic break really helped Indiana,” she said, noting the team’s 2-0 start since the W returned. “I’m going to give a shout-out to Lexie Hull. I’m a huge Lexie Hull fan. Lexie Hull shot the leather in their game against Seattle. Kelsey Mitchell just caresses; she just shoots the basketball. Aliyah Boston, almost a triple-double… If Indiana keeps playing the way they’re playing, the way they’re playing now, they’re going to move up the rankings.
Smith, who has been an outspoken supporter of Clark this season, was made aware of the comments and called the former Houston Comets star “insane” for not naming the favorite for the Rookie of the Year award.
Stephen A. Smith criticized Sheryl Swoopes for her portrayal of Caitlin Clark in a recent podcast
Sheryl Swoopes recently praised the Fever’s play without mentioning Caitlin Clark
“So, no Caitlin Clark? Sheryl Swoopes, no Caitlin Clark?” Smith said on his eponymous show, per Terrible announcement.
“With all due respect, Sheryl Swoopes, do you have any idea how that makes you look? Do you have any idea how that serves to tarnish any criticism of Caitlin Clark? Because it gives fodder to those who believe that she is in some sense hated and ostracized. Do you realize, Sheryl Swoopes, that you are crazy to do that? Let me tell you why you are crazy to do that. Because, Sheryl Swoopes, you are one of the greatest players ever in the history of basketball, that’s why.
He continued, “Look, you won a championship at Texas Tech. You won three Olympic gold medals. You won four WNBA championships. You know basketball. You know basketball better than I do; you know basketball. [better] “You’re a pundit. You know more about basketball than most men who play basketball. There’s no way you accidentally left Caitlin Clark’s name out of that monologue you dropped about the Indiana Fever – stop it.”
It’s notable that this isn’t the first time Swoopes has ridiculed Clark.
While Clark was still at the University of Iowa and nearly set the all-time NCAA D1 scoring record, Swoopes questioned whether Clark’s record was “legitimate” on the Gil’s Arena podcast. Her claim wasn’t even based on accurate information, as she was convinced Clark played five seasons at Iowa (in reality, she played four).
Smith has previously said that the predominantly black WNBA resents the white Clark and her success.
He made the comments after Chicago Sky’s Chennedy Carter body-checked her during a match on June 1.
Clark has been playing brilliantly lately, with the Fever in position for a play-off spot
“There are girls – young ladies – in the WNBA who are jealous of Caitlin Clark. She’s a white girl who came into the league,” Smith said on ESPN’s First Take.
“She’s come on the scene. She hasn’t proven herself yet. It’s not even about them thinking they’re better than her, because they probably know that at this point, because they’ve been playing at a level that she’s just gotten to.
“The resentment comes from the hard work, the dedication, the commitment, the pounding the pavement, the years of working hard to improve this brand, the WNBA, and women’s professional basketball. All of their efforts were in vain until this girl comes along and takes the league by storm, takes the college game by storm, and accomplishes in a short period of time what they couldn’t.
“You would think that people would be smart enough to recognize that and appreciate that in Caitlin Clark, use that to their advantage and praise her and support her for that as they compete against her on the field.”
Regardless of any possible ‘resentment’ from her colleagues, Clark has had a fantastic debut season, averaging 17.8 points and 8.3 assists in 28 games so far.