Caitlin Clark responds to claims she is ‘weaponized for racism and misogyny’ again after WNBA star insisted her silence in ‘culture war’ is a ‘luxury’

Caitlin Clark has hit back at her name being used as a weapon to spread racism and misogyny after coming under pressure to tackle the issue.

The WNBA rookie appeared to dismiss suggestions that her name was being used in the ongoing culture war surrounding the league when asked Thursday.

Connecticut Sun star DiJonai Carrington seemed to disagree with Clark’s response, wondering on social media how players — apparently the former Iowa star — can’t be bothered by being weaponized out of hate.

However, Clark took a stronger stance when confronted directly on the issue later Thursday evening.

“It’s disappointing,” she admitted. ‘Everyone in our world deserves equal respect. The women in our league deserve equal respect.

“People shouldn’t be using my name for those agendas. It’s disappointing. It’s not acceptable.

“This league is the league I grew up with and want to be a part of. Some of the women in this league were my biggest idols and role models growing up, and they helped me get to this moment here, where I get to play every night.”

When reporters previously asked about the way people use her name in public discourse, Clark had taken a fairly neutral stance, insisting she was just playing her sport.

“It’s not something I have control over, so I don’t spend too much time and attention thinking about things like that,” she said.

‘Basketball is my job. Everything on the outside, I have no control over that, so I’m not going to spend time thinking about that. People can talk about what they want to talk about. I’m just there to play basketball.’

However, her response was apparently seen as dismissive by Carrington, who took to social media to insist that players should name the problems they see.

DiJonnai Carrington, 21, subtweeted Caitlin 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

‘Day. That you don’t care that their name is used to justify racism, bigotry, misogyny, xenophobia, homophobia and the intersectionality of them all is insane,” Carrington tweeted.

‘We all see the sh*t. We all have a stage. We all have a voice and they all carry weight. Silence is a luxury.’

Clark has complained that players have escaped punishment for being overly physical when competing against her – a major topic of debate after Chennedy Carter checked her in a recent match against the Chicago Sky.

Clark, 22, was also controversially overlooked for the U.S. women’s basketball team for the Paris Olympics next month.

Clark had taken a neutral stance and insisted she was just playing her sport when asked earlier

The discourse has reached toxic levels, with controversial figures such as Clay Travis and Jason Whitlock claiming that Clark is being targeted because he is a white and heterosexual player.

Meanwhile, Andscape writer David Dennis Jr. said. in Around the Horn: ‘People on the margins who do exist, but who exist in real life – not just internet trolls; politicians, experts and the like – [are] Using Caitlin Clark as an avatar to lash out at the people they disrespect: especially the WNBA makeup, black women, et al.”

During the Sun’s game against the Indiana Fever earlier this week, Carrington appeared to mock Clark by simulating a flop when she was called for a foul on the rookie.

Carrington is one of the best players on the Sun – who have the best record in the WNBA at 11-1.