On Tuesday, former FS1 analyst Emmanuel Acho reacted to “Caitlin Clark’s fans” giving “death threats” to Alyssa Thomas. The Phoenix Mercury guard spoke up about the backlash stemming from her illegal contact with Clark’s neck during her team’s 111-109 win over the Indiana Fever.
The referees didn’t review the foul in real time. Clark also left the game midway after aggravating a back injury. After online outrage, the WNBA reviewed the contact, upgraded it to a Flagrant 2 Foul, and suspended Thomas for a game. In the one week since, Thomas has faced “death threats,” had her house pictures and address leaked, and faced racial abuse.
“We’re painted as thugs, and there are death threats out on us,” she told reporters on Tuesday.
On his show “Speakeasy,” Acho and his co-host Kieran Hickey-Semple argued over Clark being named alongside the fans. Semple argued she didn’t need to be associated, while Acho opposed the thought.
“I don’t think Caitlin Clark, as a player, as what she says, cultivates a culture that results in her fan base going there and saying racist remarks,” Semple said. “… And I think it can be dangerous to say, ‘Caitlin Clark’s fans’ are the ones that are doing it.”
Acho replied, saying he was getting vile messages, too.
“I’m getting the DMs,” he said. “I can read it to you … (they say), ‘Aye I love, Caitlin Clark … you finna get hung …’ Are you going to tell me that they are not a Caitlin Clark fan if they’re saying, they’re a Caitlin Clark fan?”
Semple argued that the Clark fandom had nothing to do with the outrage. The people doing this rode the fandom excuse as a “crux” to spew their racist hatred at Thomas, which is why it was unfair to link that with Clark, who hasn’t endorsed such behavior.
Emmanuel Acho And Kieran Hickey-Semple Agree That Caitlin Clark Should “Call Off The Clan”
Emmanuel Acho made a crucial rebuttal to the argument about Caitlin Clark’s association with fans in a later segment on the show (video above). Acho questioned Clark’s silence amid the chaos caused by the fans and believes she should condemn their actions. Kieran Hickey-Semple, who was on the other side of the debate, also agreed.
“Caitlin Clark hasn’t said anything either,” Acho said. “You saw Alyssa Thomas’ comment caused Cathy Engelbert’s thought. So Caitlin, all it takes also is (for) you (to) call of the clan.”
“She should be out (there) responsible,” Semple added.
Emmanuel Acho cited a Gregg Popovich incident from November 2023 when San Antonio Spurs fans booed former star Kawhi Leonard and the legendary coach grabbed a microphone mid-game to silence them.
Acho feels Clark should use her influence to stop such attacks on other players. The Fever superstar hasn’t spoken to reporters yet. She left the June 24 game injured and wasn’t at the podium during the post-game press conference. Clark is recovering and is day-to-day ahead of the team’s return to action on July 5 against the Las Vegas Aces.
Read more:
- WNBA Reporter Feels “Awful” For Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner After Their Phone Numbers, Addresses Get Leaked
- Clay Travis Proposes $100M Equity to Caitlin Clark in New League After Cathy Engelbert Vows to Protect Alyssa Thomas
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