![Charles Barkley]()
It's interesting how sports fans nowadays are often so desperate to move on to the next shiny new object that they don't appreciate what they had before or have now. There's always an eye forward on what's next, who's next, and so on. When it comes to Caitlin Clark, she's in a very unique position. She hasn't even officially "arrived" as a WNBA star, yet her
peers and even tenured fans of women's professional basketball are the ones who are trying to drag her down after a handful of games.
Charles Barkley felt compelled to take time out of an NBA program last night to explain why all the women bashing Clark are misguided in their efforts to, um, contextualize her success? That's the kindest way I can describe it.
https://twitter.com/big_business_/status/1793435954570490031
Chuck's monologue specifically addresses a couple of recent opinions that added to the carnival chorus of Clark detractors. Former ESPNer
Jemele Hill called Clark's success "problematic" because of her race and sexuality, and was then mature enough to clap back at Sir Charles with a fat-shaming jab.
https://twitter.com/jemelehill/status/1793491122465165624
Hey Jemele, isn't your joke about Chuck's weight problematic for all the millions of men and women in America who struggle with physical health, wellness, and obesity? Oh OK but I guess we can move the goalposts to fit your umpteenth half-baked take.
Then there was
The View co-host Sunny Hostin echoing a lot of those sentiments, suggesting white privilege and "pretty privilege" are major catalysts for Clark's popularity.
https://twitter.com/TheView/status/1793310375124848850
Then you even have players like Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson who are in that camp as well, via
The Associated Press.
"I think it’s a huge thing. I think a lot of people may say it’s not about Black and white, but to me, it is. It really is because you can be top notch at what you are as a Black woman, but yet maybe that’s something that people don’t want to see.They don’t see it as marketable, so it doesn’t matter how hard I work.
It doesn’t matter what we all do as Black women, we’re still going to be swept underneath the rug. That’s why it boils my blood when people say it’s not about race because it is."
I'm not here to, like, mansplain about the landscape of women's professional basketball, in part because I didn't give a damn about it before Caitlin Clark exploded onto the scene at Iowa. The fact that her game against South Carolina was
the most-watched college hoops contest on ESPN since 2019 (men or women) would alone suggest Clark's popularity transcends race and sexuality. But hey, what do I know?
Even a WNBA super-casual like me can rattle off dominant white players who've never sniffed the type of impact Clark has made despite decorated careers.
Elena Delle Donne was the second overall pick when Brittney Griner went first overall in 2013. Delle Donne is a seven-time All-Star, two-time MVP and a WNBA champion. Kelsey Plum has been a key catalyst for the Las Vegas Aces' run as back-to-back champions. Breanna Stewart was the first overall pick in the 2016 draft, with two regular-season
and two Finals MVPs on her resume. Sue Bird was the No. 1 player taken in the 2002 draft, made
thirteen All-Star teams and won four titles. Diana Taurasi is a 10-time All-WNBA first-teamer, has three 'chips to her name, two Finals MVPs, and was the first overall pick all the way back in 2004.
Taurasi ripped apart Clark and correctly predicted her WNBA transition wouldn't be a super-smooth one
before walking back her remarks. She tried to say her words were taken out of context. You tell me if there wasn't any sort of malicious undertone to them.
https://twitter.com/gifdsports/status/1776679823424762367
What gets Taurasi and many other women bent out of shape is that there have been plenty of white players, and plenty of black players, who've accomplished wonders at the WNBA level. Caitlin Clark is a singular phenomenon whose star power blew past all of theirs before she even hit the professional ranks. Why haven't any of those white players gotten more shine, given all they've achieved? Because very few people cared about the WNBA until Clark came along.
Chuck is right. Anyone in the orbit of women's pro hoops, or even women's sports in general, should be thanking Clark for bringing them so much exposure, revenue, and interest from casual fans. It's a win for everyone in the league, and enhances the chances of raising awareness about the WNBA's biggest stars. Lotta folks don't want to see it that way, though. They'd rather get analytical, trivial, or create division about
why Clark is such a megastar, and many rushed to
write off her chances at professional success after one game.
