ESPN’s Stephen A Smith says some WNBA gamers jealous of Caitlin Clark, suggests race is element

Caitlin Clark was on the receiving finish of a tough foul from Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter in the course of the Indiana Fever’s shut win on Saturday, and it rapidly turned the speak of the sports activities world.

With Carter criticizing Clark’s sport in a submit on Threads, the drama bled into Monday and was the primary subject of debate on ESPN’s “First Take” with Stephen A. Smith, Monica McNutt, Shannon Sharpe and even host Molly Qerim providing their opinions on the matter.

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Smith stated he believed there have been WNBA gamers who have been jealous of the eye Clark has obtained since getting into the league and urged race might play an element in it.

“There are women – younger women – within the WNBA who’re jealous of Caitlin Clark. She is a White lady that has come into the league,” Smith stated. “She has bursted onto the scene. She hasn’t confirmed herself but. It’s not even about them pondering they’re higher than her as a result of they in all probability comprehend it at this specific juncture as a result of they’ve been enjoying on a degree she simply arrived to.

“The place the resentment is available in is the exhausting work, the dedication, the dedication, the pounding of the pavement, the being on the grind all of those years making an attempt to uplift this model that’s the WNBA and is girls’s skilled basketball and all of their efforts have been in useless till this lady comes alongside and takes the league by storm, takes the game by type in faculty and has achieved in a brief time period what they haven’t been in a position to.

“One would assume that people could be sensible sufficient to acknowledge and respect that about Caitlin Clark – piggyback off of that to their profit and reward her and assist her for it whereas competing on the court docket in opposition to her.”

Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever defends in opposition to the New York Liberty on June 2, 2024, on the Barclays Heart in Brooklyn. (Wealthy Graessle/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photos)

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Smith stated he wasn’t essentially involved with Carter’s historical past and even overblowing the actual play she was concerned in. He wished to place all of it into context.

“You try this to an individual who’s now the face of the WNBA, that there’s one thing a bit additional to that. Now, in equity to her, I’ve seen a report the place it confirmed Caitlin Clark elbowing her first and it was retaliatory – I get that half. Let’s additionally keep in mind that earlier than she shoved, she hip-checked her from the again, from behind, she referred to as her the B-word.… We get all of that. That’s within the warmth of competitors. We’re not going to overblow that.

“What we’re going to do is give the extent of appreciation that it deserves by way of the venom and potential hostility that exists towards this ‘golden lady’ who occurs to be White and the way the WNBA is selling her.”

Carter’s foul was upgraded on Sunday from a typical foul to a flagrant-1 violation. She didn’t obtain any self-discipline past that.

She questioned on Threads what else Clark dropped at the desk past 3-point taking pictures after refusing to reply a query in regards to the play.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark reacts after scoring in opposition to the Seattle Storm, Thursday, Could 30, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photograph/Doug McSchooler)

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The Fever did win the sport 71-70. Indiana then misplaced to the New York Liberty on Sunday, 104-68.

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