On Friday, Caitlin Clark called out media personnel for questioning her character without knowing her in an interview with ESPN’s Malika Andrews. Clark said it was emotionally exhausting and frustrating when the narratives are blown out of proportion.
She specifically talked about the Jun. 24 incident with Alyssa Thomas, when the Mercury guard put her fist on Clark’s neck. It caused quite the stir across platforms, with even Congress getting involved; to this date, it remains a conversation in some spaces.
On Sunday’s NBA Today show, Andrews asked her colleague Monica McNutt for her reaction to Clark’s blunt remarks. It seemed McNutt wasn’t entirely on board as she demanded more “accountability and self-awareness” from Clark to support the WNBA’s “sisterhood.”
“I do think as she continues to matriculate to this league, there’s room for a bit more accountability and self-awareness,” McNutt said. “In terms of her role in the larger sisterhood, if she sees it that way in the WNBA.”
McNutt said it’s not just exhausting for Clark but for everyone involved that is associated with the WNBA and wants to enjoy the sporting aspect of it.
Clark’s fans took issue with McNutt’s comments. Most of them felt it was an uncalled shot at the Fever superstar. They believe that McNutt ignored the hate that Clark gets within the sisterhood and refused to take accountability for her takes that can also stir the pot.
“Mcnutt needs to be fired mid show,” one fan said. “She keeps stirring the pot. Malika putting her in her place with that last comment. It’s just so ugly how some people won’t stop.”
More reactions followed.
Caitlin Clark gets real about relationship with league office
Caitlin Clark’s relationship with the media is up and down. The coverage around her has been polarizing, which she vocalized on Friday. On Saturday, Clark also addressed her relationship with the WNBA’s leadership.
While she didn’t clearly mention it, it seems Clark doesn’t have a dynamic with league commissioner Cathy Engelbert.
“I think I communicate mostly with probably like Nneka [Ogwumike] and player leadership more than anything. And I try to do the best I can. I always wanna be respectful of everybody and treat everybody with kindness. I think that’s really important. But at the same time, relationships are very important to me. And I think we can always improve in that area because it seems like a lot of things. I think communication can improve overall,” Clark said.
According to Thursday’s report from ESPN’s Alexa Philippou, multiple high-ranking team sources have predicted Cathy Engelbert’s exit from her position after the season concludes. One of the main reasons behind that has been her not prioritizing building a closer relationship with Caitlin Clark.
It’s odd given Clark’s influence in bringing more eyeballs to the league. The WNBA also put every Fever game on national television this season, which back the questions around Engelbert’s bleak relationship with Clark.
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