Special Presidential Envoy Nick Adams slammed Cari Champion for saying it’s a “sign of respect” that Caitlin Clark has a target on her back in the WNBA. Champion also made viral comments on May 28, saying the referees blatantly favored the Indiana Fever superstar.
During Saturday’s segment of CNN’s “Table For Five” show, Champion seemed to downplay the noise around players roughing up Clark more than others after co-panelist Joe Borelli said the Fever superstar was getting “bullied” and said there might be “jealousy” toward her.
“It’s a rite of passage and it’s a sign of respect,” Champion said. “For someone who doesn’t know the game, for you [Joe] to use certain words, be careful with your words. 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. 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.”
Cari Champion cited examples like LeBron James and Michael Jordan, who, according to her, also faced what Caitlin Clark endures. Nick Adams was among the notable people opposing Champion’s theory.
“Cari Champion is a liar,” he bluntly replied on X. “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.”
The discussion on CNN and then X stemmed from Congress’s letter to the WNBA commissioner, Cathy Engelbert. The letter suggested that Caitlin Clark faced violent attacks from rival players, which could be racially motivated. The lawmakers demanded that the league investigate the matter.
They threatened that if the WNBA fails to protect Clark, the Department of Justice and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission will crack down on the league for violations of federal civil rights law.
Nick Adams shows Caitlin Clark’s impact with evidence
Nick Adams wasn’t done after calling Cari Champion a “liar” for her latest take on Caitlin Clark and the discourse around players targeting her. Shortly after that remark, Adams retweeted the CNN segment, which showed the influence Clark has had on viewership and why the players should be thankful for her.
“BEFORE CAITLIN CLARK: Avg Attendance: 6,600 TV Viewership: Never hit 500k Avg salary: $150k AFTER CAITLIN CLARK: Avg attendance: 10k+ TV Viewership: Biggest games hit 2M+ Avg salary: $600k WNBA players should be kissing the ground Clark walks on. Without her, they’re nothing,” Adams wrote.
It’s a long-standing debate between Caitlin Clark’s fans and other WNBA fans over who helped boost the league’s popularity. The numbers show that since her debut, most of her games have been the highest-watched across national broadcasting channels.
However, other fans believe she’s only added to the existing foundation by the players who arrived before her.
Read more:
- Olivia Miles Tops Caitlin Clark’s WNBA Record As Lynx Take Down Liberty
- “Kahleah Copper and Chelsea Gray Are Right There”: WNBA Podcaster Questions Adidas’ Sophie Cunningham PE Sneaker Decision
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in the NBA, college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
