Caitlin Clark HAS to stand for something… like it or not, she is the face of a league known for advocacy, says ex-WNBA star

Former WNBA player Chiney Ogwumike urged Caitlin Clark to take a stand and be more active in advocacy as her fame draws more and more attention to the league.

Ogwumike’s comments on First Take came in light of Clark expressing her disappointment over her name being weaponized for racism, misogyny and other discriminatory comments.

While Ogwumike acknowledged how Clark handled the question, she also insisted the rookie speak up more and use her platform to refocus attention on the court and the growth of the WNBA.

“With all the growth that Caitlin has brought, it has come with a lot of growing pains,” Ogwumike said. “It’s necessary to say something because now you have the opportunity to educate people who come with you.”

“So hopefully the focus can be on the game and not on these preconceived notions that have brought to the fore the fact that we are in one of the most polarized moments in our country.”

Ogwumike also highlighted how the WNBA is built heavily on the advocacy of its players – noting the work of former player Maya Moore both on and off the court.

Without downplaying the differences, Ogwumike compares Clark to NBA superstar LeBron James and how he uses his platform to fight for social justice.

“She is the face of a league that has consistently built its backbone, but in recent years has become known for its advocacy.”

‘The conversations are not necessarily about basketball, but it is good for the sport. We have the opportunity to make things right, and I think Caitlin has done just that,” Ogwumike continued.

The rookie initially took a neutral stance when asked about her name being used as a weapon

DiJonnai Carrington (R) subtweeted Clark (L) for her response to a question about the use of her name in an ongoing “culture war” surrounding the WNBA in recent weeks

“But it got me thinking: We talk about LeBron James a lot. And I feel like we’re getting to the same point with Caitlin Clark.”

“He had to stand for something and he had to represent the league. The difference, of course, is that he is a black man, and this is a young white woman. Yet she doesn’t just represent herself as an individual and as a basketball player.”

Additionally, Ogwumike noted how quickly Clark became the face of the WNBA. Although her freshman season wasn’t the most flawless, Clark’s success in college led to a huge following that followed her into the pros.

Clark took a stronger stance when confronted directly on the issue Thursday evening

Clark is averaging 15.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and six assists as the Fever are 4-10 per quarter in their campaign.

“If you asked me two years ago, or even months ago, who was the face of the WNBA? I’d tell you it’s A’ja Wilson,” she said. “She’s a back-to-back champion right now. She plays like an MVP. She is the most dominant player in the WNBA right now.”

‘But we are experiencing a shift. True, for better or for worse, [Wilson] is not necessarily the face of the league. The face of the league now is Caitlin Clark.”