Last month, when Caitlin Clark went down with a left quadriceps injury and missed two weeks, it reignited the debate around her growing presence in the WNBA. It goes without saying that the rise in popularity that the W experiences right now is all due to her involvement, but with that spotlight has also come a fair share of physical play against her. At times, it’s felt like she’s been specifically targeted on the court, and ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith didn’t shy away from calling it out. But in doing so, he may have landed himself in the WNBA’s bad books!
“There’s resentment. It’s not just about her play. It’s what she represents. That’s the reality. It’s undeniable. There’s a few who actually resent her popularity so much, they would rather not benefit from it.” These were some big words said by Stephen A. on the PDB podcast last month.
Look, there’s no denying that Caitlin Clark brings in a lot of money for the league. Ryan Brewer, a professor at Indiana University Columbus, even believes her impact could push league revenue close to $1 billion this season. And he has the numbers to back it up! Last year, Clark’s regular-season games averaged 1.2 million viewers, which was 199% more than the games she didn’t participate in. That’s not all, TV viewership rose by 300%, and nearly 45% of the league’s total broadcast value is now tied to Fever games. So, it’s easy to see why a target has been painted on her back.
Her recent encounters with Jacy Sheldon, Marna Mabrey, and Angel Reese do suggest that she is being viewed and treated differently on the court. But Stephen A’s comments on Clark’s treatment might have backfired on him. In a recent video on his YouTube channel, he revealed something interesting–something that might share a link with his comments last month.
“First of all, I’m happy for them. I want the league (WNBA) to grow. I want to support the league as well. Me personally, I think I should get courtside seats whenever I want them, especially since I’m always willing to pay for them. I have no idea why it’s such a hard time for me to get courtside seats to these games—but that’s a different subject for another day,” he said on his YouTube channel.
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Now, fans have always had a problem with the sportscaster covering the W games. Remember when he addressed JuJu as “JuJu Smith-Schuster” following her injury? It created a huge uproar among the fans. Then came the heated exchange with Monica McNutt, where she challenged him, asking why he hadn’t covered women’s sports more seriously before Caitlin Clark’s rise.
There could be N number of reasons why Stephen A. isn’t getting those tickets. The rise in demand? W fans not liking him? His comments against the treatment of Clark? It’s hard to say for sure. Only Stephen A. truly knows what’s going on behind the scenes. But looking at the timeline, you can’t help but wonder— did speaking out on Clark’s behalf cost him a spot courtside?
While it remains to be seen what the real reason is, the Fever fans are currently sweating over Caitlin Clark’s availability for the upcoming Commissioner’s Cup final. Coach White has an update. Let’s take a look!
Stephanie White provides Caitlin Clark injury update
So far this season, Clark is averaging 18.2 points, 8.9 assists, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.6 steals. But the efficiency? That’s been a concern. She’s shooting just 39% from the field and 29.5% from deep. You could say that injuries likely have a lot to do with that. As the Commissioner’s Cup final approaches, the Fever fans will be hoping to have their star guard back in action. They have a 3-4 record without her, and would hope that she is fit enough to play.
Coach White was asked about an update on Clark’s injury status, and this is what she had to say. “We still don’t know. It’s a day-to-day thing. Did some stuff at practice today, making sure we don’t have any setbacks. We got to be smart about this. We’ll evaluate tomorrow morning at shootaround.”
There are so many questions heading into the game. Will Clark be fit enough to play against the Lynx? Will Clark risk herself to play the game and try to win her first trophy with the Indiana Fever? Will Stephen A. be courtside to cover the final? What are your thoughts about it? Let us know in the comments down below!
The post Stephen A. Smith’s Criticism Of Caitlin Clark Treatment Backfires As ESPN Analyst Admits He Doesn’t Get WNBA Tickets appeared first on EssentiallySports.
