Caitlin Clark’s biggest problem isn’t ‘angry jealous black women’ but the WNBA rookie sensation’s ‘easily-triggered’ fans, Jason Whitlock claims

According to podcaster Jason Whitlock, the biggest threat to Caitlin Clark’s debut season is her loyal army of fans, who threaten to give her a “victim mentality.”

Whitlock began his tirade by attacking the Indiana Fever rookie’s WNBA rivals, claiming that Clark is the victim of “intolerance” from “a group of angry and jealous black women.”

‘[Chicago Sky rookie] Angel Reese, [retired] Sheryl dives, [Sky guard] Diamond Deshields, Chennedy Carter, [Chicago coach] Teresa Weatherspoon, [retired] Lisa Leslie, [South Carolina coach and former WNBA star] Dawn Staley and the last remnants of Black Twitter, they’re no match for Clark’s basketball skills,’ Whitlock began. ‘They’re the Seven Dwarfs. You’ll have to Google them to remember their names: Sleezy Reese, Grumpy Swoopes, Dopey DeShields, Angry Carter, Bashful Leslie, Weavey Weatherspoon.

“Staley, of course, is the evil queen of women’s basketball,” Whitlock continued. “She is the puppet master who secretly pulls the strings of the bigotry that denied Clark a spot on the Olympic team and fueled the mean-spirited commentary surrounding the WNBA’s Rookie of the Year discussions.”

But while Whitlock blamed Staley in one breath for orchestrating Clark’s Olympic rejection, he dismissed her as “largely powerless and ineffective” in the next. The real problem Clark faces, Whitlock explained, is her fans.

Jason Whitlock blames South Carolina coach Dawn Staley for keeping Caitlin Clark off Team USA, then says he thinks Staley is ‘powerless and ineffective’

“Clark’s real obstacles are her suitors — the fan base triggered by dwarves, the people who want to turn their idol into a victim,” he said. “A victim mentality could derail Caitlin Clark’s historic season. It could prevent Clark from reaching her full potential this year. Clark had a chance to have the greatest rookie season in the history of professional sports.”

Whitlock went on to list some famous rookie campaigns, such as Jackie Robinson’s in 1947 and Mike Tyson’s first year as a pro in 1985.

Robinson’s Brooklyn Dodgers lost to rivals New York Yankees in the 1947 World Series, while Tyson’s move to professional football led to 15 consecutive knockout victories against what Whitlock described as “tomato cans.”

Clark’s Fever are now 8-2 in their last 10 games, leading some to believe Indiana could be in contention for a stunning title run in 2024.

“They are the best team in the league since the Olympic break,” he said before warning her fans.

Whitlock said Clark’s fans risk perpetuating the rookie sensation’s worst habits, such as inconsistent defense and a willingness to take few 3-pointers early in games.

“A victim mentality would prevent her from making the necessary improvements,” Whitlock said. “Her fans could give her that mentality if they keep harping on about things that don’t really matter, and shield Clark from objective criticism.

“Caitlin Clark is lazy on defense,” he continued. “She spends way too much time whining to the officials. She loses focus on her ball handling and passing and falls into throwing the ball from far away early in the shot clock.

“Clark’s shortcomings need to be discussed publicly. It will force her to address them, but that is difficult in the current environment. Her supporters interpret any criticism as unfair bigotry or jealousy. They have adopted Caitlin Clark’s victim mentality.”

And it’s that victim mentality that Whitlock associates with Clark’s rivals.

‘Do you want to know why the Seven Dwarfs whine and cry about Caitlin Clark?’ he asked himself. ‘Because they have a victim mentality. Because they are surrounded by people who will make any excuse for their shortcomings.

“Don’t do this to Caitlin Clark,” he concluded. “She’s not weak. She’s prepared and she’s strong.”

Clark’s fans have also faced other criticism in recent weeks, including an article on SBNation that called out online insults directed at DeShields.

After DeShields fouled Clark last week, she faced a wave of online abuse, largely because of the tumor in her spine that nearly paralyzed her.

“You should have taken that tumor out,” was a comment directed at DeShields, who underwent surgery to remove the tumor in 2020.

“Mrs. Tumor, are you okay?” asked another Clark fan.