Caitlin Clark Breaks Silence On WNBA Disrespect

While former Iowa star and current face of the Indiana Fever and WNBA, Caitlin Clark, may just want to focus on basketball, she finds herself being used as an example in debates that don’t pertain to basketball.

Her popularity initially boomed during her time at Iowa where she led the Hawkeyes to back-to-back title appearances, drawing in millions of fans, and has continued to flourish. In her brief time in the WNBA, she again has drawn attention from millions of fans but she has also been at the center of discussions regarding race, politics, and numerous other hard-hitting matters.

On Thursday ahead of the Indiana Fever’s game against the Atlanta Dream, Clark was asked about people using her name to fuel racism, misogyny, and other disrespectful manners. Something to the surprise of no one, she was clearly prepared to discuss.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) talks to Seattle Storm guard Victoria Vivians (35) following being run into after making a three-pointer, Thursday, May 30, 2024, during the WNBA game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) talks to Seattle Storm guard Victoria Vivians (35) following being run into after making a three-pointer, Thursday, May 30, 2024, during the WNBA game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Joe Timmerman/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

“Yeah, I think it’s disappointing. I think everybody in our world deserves the same amount of respect. The women in our league deserve the same amount of respect,” Clark said. “So, people should not be using my name to push those agendas. It’s disappointing.

“It’s not acceptable…This league is a league I grew up admiring and wanting to be a part of. Some of the women idols and role models growing up and helped me want to achieve this moment right here that I get to play in every single night. Just treating every single woman in this league with the same amount of respect I think is just a basic human thing that everybody should do. Just be a kind person and treat them how you would want to be treated. I think it’s very simple.”

Clark has been advocating for the players around her dating back to college, and has continued to try and uplift the league despite all of the outside noise.

Fans Call Out Controversial Stat That ‘Exposes’ Caitlin Clark

There is no doubt the top two rookies so far in the 2024 WNBA season are — in no particular order — Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever and Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky. Where it gets contentious is in deciding which of the two first-year players is better.

Some have used the player efficiency rating (PER) to decide the matter. It’s an advanced stat developed by former Memphis Grizzlies executive John Hollinger, who is a senior NBA columnist for The Athletic.

Reese has a higher PER than Clark by a significant margin. The Sky forward owns a 19.8 PER through 22 games, while Clark has a 15.7 over the same number of games played.

Via Clark Report:

“PER (player efficiency rating) is an advanced stat that has been used to argue Caitlin Clark should not be WNBA Rookie of the Year.

Across the top 14 all time highest NBA PER ratings, 0 were point guards.

Across the top 25 all time highest WNBA PER ratings, 1 was a point guard.”

However, Clark’s supporters have tried to put the use of PER in perspective, as they believe it’s unfair to make that stat the sole arbitrator in settling the Clark vs. Reese debate.

One fan protests: “They use these weird stats no one has ever heard of that favor bigs to make their case! (It’s their) only way to create their narrative.”

Another X user posts in disagreement, saying “anybody who uses that stat (PER) seriously needs to be ignored.”

“PER has always been a big person stat. Caitlin was top 3 last season at Iowa and was the only guard in the top 5,” said another Clark supporter.

Another X user who criticizes the PER called the NBA and WNBA “biased in favor of ‘average’ post players.” The same user went on to say Clark shouldn’t just be the Rookie of the Year winner but also an ESPY award winner for “impacting women’s sports, like we’ve never witnessed before.”

One fan blatantly calls the PER “one of the worst metrics for efficiency.”

“Fake made up stat,” said another Clark fan.

There is still plenty of basketball left to play this season, though. Both Clark and Reese can continue making strong cases for their Rookie of the Year campaign while they also look to help their teams make the playoffs.