Cari Champion clapped back at Special Presidential Envoy Nick Adams for calling her a “liar” about her comment on Caitlin Clark. On Saturday’s Segment of CNN’s “Table For Five,” Champion rejected narratives that Clark was getting beaten and bullied by her peers. The former ESPN television personality added that it’s a sign of respect that players have extra motivation while playing Clark.
“She’s not getting beaten, she’s not getting bullied, no one’s pulling her hair and no one’s claiming she can’t come out and play with them,” Champion said. “That is the sign of respect. If I go at you because you’re supposed to be a superstar, you’re supposed to take it.”
Adams rejected Champion’s opinion on X.
“Cari Champion is a liar,” he bluntly said. “Caitlin Clark is the only reason anyone watches the WNBA and she’s being harassed and beaten out of jealousy. If I were Caitlin, I would take my talents to another league and watch the WNBA collapse.”
On Tuesday, Champion addressed his comments on her podcast, “Flagrant and Funny,” with Jemele Hill.
“I said Jemele, what does he do for a living?’ Champion revealed her conversation with her co-host. “And she [Jemele] gave him a whole title that sounded like a real title. Like, I’ve never heard of him. … These people get paid to do that and I’m sure they feel the same way about us.”
Meanwhile, Hill questioned Adams’ right to call out Champion, as one year ago, he tweeted that he wasn’t “interested in the WNBA.” Hill also claimed some of the stats he presented to back his argument were not entirely true.
Cari Champion calls out Cathy Engelbert’s silence as Congress comes to Caitlin Clark’s defense
Cari Champion has opposed Congress’s involvement in the Caitlin Clark controversy. Eleven Republican lawmakers wrote a letter to Cathy Engelbert demanding an investigation into the hostile plays made against Clark. The lawmakers believe it could be a racial issue and they threatened to cooperate with the Department of Justice if the WNBA doesn’t take the right steps.
Clark and the Indiana Fever have not communicated with Congress and have maintained they aren’t associated. Champion believes this is a WNBA problem and commissioner Engelbert must answer questions and stop this issue from blowing out of proportion.
“The reality is that this is a WNBA situation,” Champion said on her podcast with Jemele Hill on Tuesday. “You [Jemele] and I on this show said over and over again, Cathy Engelbert can’t take the silent route, which she chooses to do.”
Champion mentioned the Dan Patrick controversy, in which the analyst called out Engelbert for not appearing on his show despite prior agreement, saying he offered her a fair and respectful platform to answer “tough” questions.
Champion feels Engelbert needs to proactively address these issues to prevent the kind of outrage sparked by Congress over the officiating standards and physical play against Clark, which she maintains is a “sign of respect.”
Read more:
- Howard Bryant Says Caitlin Clark “Sticking Tongue Out, Mean Mugging and Crying” to Refs Are Reasons She’s Not “Likeable,” Not Racism
- Dan Dakich Calls Caitlin Clark More “Mature” Than Paige Bueckers While Endorsing OutKick Reporter’s Opinion
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