Since she was chosen No. 1 general within the 2024 WNBA Draft, the Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark was labeled a celebrity earlier than even stepping on the skilled courtroom.
And whereas the Fever have gotten off to a gradual begin – they’re 2-9 after getting blown out by the New York Liberty on Sunday night time – Clark’s star standing continues to shine in Indiana.
Nonetheless, there was some controversy surrounding Clark regardless of taking part in simply 11 video games, together with an incident with Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter in Saturday’s 71-70 win.
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Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark brings the ball up courtroom towards the Chicago Sky on June 1, 2024, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. (Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photographs)
Clark’s acclimation to the WNBA has been the topic of many sports activities discuss exhibits, however ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Present” took it to a unique stage on Monday morning. The previous NFL kicker and his crew created a complete slideshow about what they consider critics of Clark who say she’s solely a celebrity as a result of she is a White feminine within the league.
“I would love the media people who proceed to say, ‘This rookie class, this rookie class, this rookie class.’ Nah, simply name it for what it’s – there’s one White b—- for the Indiana staff who’s a celebrity,” stated McAfee, who has had Clark on his present and has been seen at Fever video games given his standing in Indiana.
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“Is it as a result of she stayed in Iowa and put a complete state on her again? Took a program from nothing to a multiple-year success story? Is it as a result of she would go on to interrupt your complete factors document within the historical past of the NCAA? Not simply the ladies’s document by Kelsey Plum – shout out – but in addition ‘Pistol’ Pete Maravich’s. The dude’s data as nicely. Is there an opportunity that folks simply take pleasure in watching her play basketball due to how electrifying she is? What she stood for, how she went about going what she went for? Perhaps.
SKY’S CHENNEDY CARTER RIPS CAITLIN CLARK AFTER REFUSING TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT FOUL
“However as an alternative, we have now to listen to folks say we solely like her as a result of she’s White. And she or he’s solely standard as a result of the remainder of the rookie class is doing what they’re doing. That’s a bunch of bulls—, and we predict the WNBA, extra particularly their refs, must cease making an attempt to screw her over at each single flip. What you’ve is any person particular, and we’re fortunate she’s right here in Indiana.”
McAfee additionally referred to Clark as a “money cow” for the WNBA, although he would not assume the remainder of the league must act in a different way together with her when it is time to play.
“Athletes are going to do what athletes are going to do in any sport,” he stated. “I believe we’re all studying that the WNBA… that’s old-school soccer. That’s old-school soccer.”
![Pat McAfee runs his show](https://i0.wp.com/a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/02/1200/675/Pat-McAfee2.jpg?resize=662%2C372&ssl=1)
Pat McAfee talks on the Mandalay Bay Conference Heart forward of Tremendous Bowl LVIII on Feb. 8, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Candice Ward/Getty Photographs)
McAfee is referencing Carter’s hip-check on Clark throughout Saturday’s sport, which was later upgraded by the WNBA to a flagrant-1 violation as an alternative of a typical foul. Each gamers had been jawing at each other earlier than the incident, and Clark hit the deck as Carter blatantly bumped into her after making a bucket.
Carter went on to counsel Clark flopped, whereas additionally ripping her on social media, saying moreover three-point capturing she would not carry something to the desk.
Clark took the excessive highway when requested in regards to the incident, and she or he’s persistently stated she would not need gamers to deal with her any in a different way on the ground than they’d veterans within the league.
Nonetheless, Fever GM Lin Dunn was easy together with her opinion on what transpired over the weekend.
“There’s a distinction between robust protection and pointless – focusing on actions!” Dunn wrote in a publish on X. “It must cease! The league must ‘cleanup’ (sic) the c—! That’s NOT who this league is!!”
![Caitlin Clark and Pat McAfee side by side](https://i0.wp.com/a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/06/1200/675/Caitlin-Clark-Pat-McAfee.png?resize=662%2C372&ssl=1)
Pat McAfee opened his Monday present with a section about Caitlin Clark, and the way the WNBA has a “money cow” due to her superstardom. (Getty Photographs)
Clark had her worst sport of her early profession on Sunday at Barclays Heart, capturing simply 1-of-10 for 3 factors.
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Nonetheless, Clark is the second participant in WNBA historical past to have not less than 100 factors, 50 rebounds and 50 assists of their first 10 video games, becoming a member of the Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu in that feat. She did so after gathering 11 factors, eight rebounds and three assists within the win over Chicago.
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