Jason Whitlock says Caitlin Clark is a ‘slave’ who black WNBA players are ‘exploiting’ to boost their profile

Jason Whitlock adds fuel to simmering racial tensions in the WNBA by equating white superstar Caitlin Clark with an African-American slave.

“Caitlin Clark is ‘Kunta Clark,’” the sports podcaster said, comparing the WNBA’s Rookie of the Year to the enslaved protagonist of Alex Haley’s 1976 bestseller, Roots. “She is the actual slave that everyone else exploits for their own benefit.”

Whitlock’s comparison followed a series of attacks on African-American players, whom he depicted as “angry black feminists.”

He specifically called out Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese and Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas, both of whom have spoken out about the racist comments directed at players by fans.

“She is the true slave that everyone else is exploiting for their own benefit,” Whitlock said. “Angel Reese is at the top of the list, and now Alyssa Thomas says, ‘Let me get my piece.’

Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark has called for an end to racist fan abuse in the WNBA

Whitlock also accused Sun’s Dijonai Carrington of deliberately stabbing Clark in the eye during a recent game – something the Indiana Fever guard has denied.

“Caitlin Clark got stabbed in the eye and got hurt, black eye, you can still see the black eye,” Whitlock said Friday, as quoted by Fox Sports Radio 790.

After the most successful regular season in league history, the ongoing WNBA postseason is in danger of being overshadowed by controversy. While many of Clark’s supporters have accused the league of conspiring against its biggest star, a number of players have expressed frustrations over racist fan abuse.

“I don’t think in my 11-year career I’ve ever experienced racist comments like those from Indiana Fever fans,” Thomas said Thursday.

Clark spoke to reporters Friday about the racist comments directed at her black colleagues following the Indiana Fever’s first-round playoff loss at the hands of the Sun.

“It’s absolutely disturbing,” Clark said Friday morning. “No one in our league should experience any form of racism, hurtful, disrespectful, hateful comments or threats. Those aren’t fans. Those are trolls and it’s a real disservice to the people of our league, the organization, the WNBA.”

Alyssa Thomas spoke out about the ‘unacceptable’ racist abuse by Indiana Fever fans

Things were bad enough for the WNBA to address the issue in a statement this week.

“The WNBA is a competitive league with some of the most elite athletes in the world,” the league statement said. “While we welcome a growing fan base, the WNBA will not tolerate racist, derogatory or threatening comments about players, teams or anyone affiliated with the league.”

Meanwhile, FOX Sports analyst Nick Wright insists that racists have used Clark’s popularity to spread hatred toward black WNBA players.

During the 2024 WNBA season, the No. 1 overall pick pushed the league’s attendance and viewership to new heights following her collegiate career at the University of Iowa.

“You’ve got a whole load of new fans because Caitlin Clark is at the box office,” the FS1 presenter said on his What’s Wright programme. “But unfortunately, it was unavoidable, and the league should have seen this train coming down the tracks, on that wagon were people who were not fans of basketball, who were not even real fans of Caitlin Clark.”