Sports commentator Stephen A. Smith made a blunt appeal to the WNBA over the treatment of Caitlin Clark.
The Indiana Fever star has taken the league to new heights since being picked first overall in 2024. However, despite her appeal as the face of the league, players from opposing teams have not shied away from defending Clark with physicality.
On Wednesday, during a loose-ball scramble in the second quarter of the game between the Phoenix Mercury and Fever, Clark dropped to the floor, and Alyssa Thomas made contact with her throat, which could have resulted in a serious injury.
After the game, Fever coach Stephanie White criticized the officials for failing to call a foul and for failing to protect one of the league’s biggest stars.
In light of her remarks, Smith has some advice for the rest of the league. According to the outspoken ESPN analyst, the WNBA can either “ride the wave or get left behind.”
“Don’t you want to make money?” Smith asked. “What you don’t do is have such a disdain and a disregard for her that a coach is complaining about intentional harm being aimed in her direction because of the resentment that she fuels. Rising tide lifts all boats.”
Fans reacted to Smith’s remarks.
“The WNBA is garbage. They’re so jealous of her talent,” one fan wrote.
“Everything is fun and games until a big VC backs her to start her own league,” one fan said.
“Caitlin Clark is indirectly forcing the WNBA to be something it doesn’t want to be. An actual business that makes its own money,” one fan commented.
“CC isn’t the cash cow he makes her out to be. I think her wave has passed tbh,” one fan shared his opinion.
“This is spot on,” one fan agreed with Smith.
“Imagine bringing record viewership to a league that has profited and still get treated this way. Arenas filled just to see her. Caitlin Clark should be treated like a queen. This opportunity won’t come again @WNBA,” one fan added.
Stephen A. Smith Compares Caitlin Clark to Michael Jordan
Stephen A. Smith even compared Caitlin Clark’s popularity in the WNBA to Michael Jordan. The ESPN analyst acknowledged that while Clark may not have the same skills as MJ, she does have a similar appeal.
“You think Magic Johnson and Larry Bird wanted to concede the reins to Michael Jordan?” Smith said. “I’m comparing her to him as it pertains to her box office appeal for her respective sport. She’s that girl.
“You ride that wave. You want to beat Caitlin Clark? Beat her playing basketball. Don’t beat her with roughhouse tactics. Compromising her ability to play because if she ain’t playing, it’s going to affect ratings, and if it’s affecting ratings, it’s going to affect revenue, and if it’s going to affect revenue, then you’re not going to build the sport the way you hope to build the sport.”
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