Sheryl Swoopes continues to ignore Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark, and fans aren’t happy about it.
Clark is averaging 19.5 points, 8.4 assists and 5.7 rebounds this season and has set several WNBA records, including most assists in a single season.
However, those accolades apparently aren’t enough for WNBA legend Swoopes to consider Clark dominant, as she downplayed the rookie’s blazing start to his career after dropping her season averages to Podcast by Gil’s Arena.
“Those are hellish numbers. But to me, they’re not overpowering,” she said.
Swoopes, who has been biased toward Clark in the past, has been criticized for her latest comments.
Sheryl Swoopes doesn’t believe Caitlin Clark will dominate the WNBA in her rookie year
Clark is averaging 19.5 points and set the WNBA single-season scoring record on her first try
‘Swoopes shouldn’t get any airtime, her value is zero and it just keeps encouraging her with a paycheck,’ said one fan said on X.
“At this point she needs to shut up. She’s already proven she’s not a fan,” said another said.
Another fan agreed in‘Give it up Swoopes. WTF is your problem? You look dumber every day.
And another X user branded the four-time WNBA champion “a bitter person” for whom “jealousy is killing her.”
It’s largely thanks to Clark that the Fever secured a playoff spot, and the team is now 9-4 since the WNBA resumed Olympic play last month.
But Swoopes couldn’t bring herself to mention the former University of Iowa star when she referenced the team that won its first two games since the restart on the Queens of the Court podcast, while mentioning names like Lexie Hull, Kelsey Mitchell and Aaliyah Boston.
Caitlin Clark has been on a roll since the WNBA resumed after the Olympics
Stephen A. Smith got wind of these comments and attacked Swoopes for her “crazy” Clark hue.
“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 hated and excluded in some way,” he said on the Stephen A. Smith Showaccording to Terrible announcement.
“You know, Sheryl Swoopes, you’re crazy to do that? Let me tell you why you’re crazy to do that. Because, Sheryl Swoopes, you’re one of the greatest players ever in the history of basketball, that’s why.
‘…You know basketball better than I do; you know basketball [better] “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.”
Smith later alleged that Swoopes, who covers the WNBA for Bally Sports Southwest, was removed from a Fever game against the Dallas Wings. He claimed the network was concerned because she did not cover the game fairly.
Swoopes also took a swipe at Clark when she was in college and nearly set the all-time NCAA D1 scoring record.
The 53-year-old questioned whether Clark’s career 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).
Despite this, Clark has had an impressive debut season and will be looking to continue her momentum in the play-offs.