Stephen A. Smith goes on Caitlin Clark WNBA race rant over Indiana Fever star’s success: ‘There’s a broader issue here that can’t be escaped’

Stephen A. Smith delivered a Caitlin Clark-fueled WNBA racing rant this week, highlighting what he believes her rise has exposed about society while name-dropping Martin Luther King and Donald Trump.

Smith spoke out about Clark in this case after Connecticut Sun star DiJonai Carrington took issue with Clark’s lack of a brash statement to distance herself from those who used her name to weaponize the spread of racism and misogyny.

Clark immediately pushed back when asked about those claims, but Smith thought the exchange had a greater significance.

The Indiana Fever star was at the forefront of women’s basketball during her WNBA rookie season, leading to an unprecedented spotlight for the sport and the league.

On Sunday, Clark rival Angel Reese said she’s getting a “special whistle” after a difference in officials’ calls against her team compared to the Fever.

Smith mentioned Donald Trump and Martin Luther King to make his point about race and Clark

“There is a broader problem here that cannot be avoided,” Smtih said. “And that is that she is a white young lady and she has been a magnet in some ways, benefiting the league in ways that others have not, even though their efforts were worth it and deserved to be just as celebrated to be, if not even more celebrated.’

Then Smith brought up the former US president.

‘You have someone who is a presidential candidate. What is his claim to fame? ‘Make America Great Again,'” Smith said, referring to Trump. “What have people interpreted as its meaning? “Make America white again.”

‘What did that lead to? A chasm,” Smith continued. “It’s not a gap that’s being created. It is a gap that is highlighted because it highlights and shows that it has existed all along. It hasn’t gone anywhere.’

Smith’s entire monologue about Clark lasted almost five minutes, although he said he thinks Clark is a box office hit and will be a great player in the WNBA.

The ESPN personality isn’t the first to question whether Clark’s popularity is mainly due to her race, with Charlamagne Tha God recently doing the same.

‘Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and others tried to make things happen in the 50’s, in the 60’s, with Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat on the bus, everyone knows this was something that was orchestrated because there was a larger expense that needed to be addressed Smith said of race relations.

Clark returned to action on Sunday and helped her team win over the Chicago Sky

Reese committed a flagrant foul on Clark during the game, but was not ejected

Chennedy Carter gave Clark a brutal shoulder shot during the game against Fever-Sky on Saturday

“And they had to find the right person to handle it. And throughout history we have seen a plethora of things happen and take place where the light was shone on an individual and it was orchestrated, plotted and planned because there was a bigger message and a bigger problem to be addressed,” Smith continued.

“But it took a long time for the right person to give us the permission to address it, and it may not have been of their own volition, and it is happening,” Smith added.

Smith’s rant received mixed reviews, including from conservative commentator Clay Travis.

“Caitlin Clark broke ESPN. They have no idea how to address black lesbians who hate her because she’s white and straight, because it destroys identity politics, so you get this kind of word salad,” Travis said on X.

Clark has been involved in two major controversies this season, both against the Chicago Sky.

First, Clark was brutally hip-checked by Chennedy Carter during an in-bounds play that was clearly out of step with a typical basketball game.

The body check, and Carter’s stated lack of remorse for it, sparked several days of controversy on social media that divided fans and led to accusations of racism from both sides.

Then on Sunday, constant Clark rival Reese committed a flagrant foul that saw the former Iowa star hit in the head, sending her to the court in pain.

These incidents have led some to believe that Clark is the target of a crackdown by opponents.