Again, I don’t watch women’s basketball, but I watch the highlights sometimes. We all see the box scores, too. There is no doubt that Caitlin Clark is one of the greats. Now, when people think she could compete with the men in the NBA, everyone should take the off-ramp. That’s not true, but that doesn’t detract from what she’s contributed to the game. Whether you agree or not, people got excited for women’s basketball because of Clark, LSU’s Angel Reese, South Carolina’s squad, and their coach, Dawn Staley. Staley is also a Hall of Fame player. But the lead-up to the championship game between Iowa and South Carolina was ridiculous, with scores of past women’s players pulling out the daggers for Clark.
Caitlin Clark really has people mad for just existing https://t.co/36f59Ha2wv
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) April 7, 2024
I can’t help but side with Caitlin Clark today. Too many older basketball players have fired off annoying takes. It’s weird. https://t.co/Vw2QdhTJmF
— Jeff D. Lowe (@JeffDLowe) April 7, 2024
So the WNBA fights to be noticed more in sports and then when it’s actually being talked about, they decide to show how little they actually support A WOMAN IN BASKETBALL?
— Kayce Smith (@KayceSmith) April 7, 2024
Bold move.
It got so bad that Barstool Sports’ Dave Portnoy went on a 3-plus-minute tirade on X. Portnoy wanted Clark’s predecessors to give the Iowa star “her flowers.” From Diana Taurasi to Breanna Stewart, all were slamming Clark. Portnoy’s remarks were simple: no one watched women’s basketball when these two were playing, and now that some attention is being offered, thanks in part to Clark and others, the ladies of old are trashing her.
"Jealously is a stinky cologne. Pass it along to all the Caitlin Clark haters," wrote Portnoy.
Jealously is a stinky cologne. Pass it along to all the Caitlin Clark haters. pic.twitter.com/4EPpjutJ19
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) April 7, 2024
It's not unusual. Women-hating-women is a well-known characteristic among females in any industry. There will always be ‘mean girls’ in the workplace, whether on the court, field, or corporate America. So, while feminists fight against the patriarchy, given off this veneer of a united sisterhood, the fact is that ladies will shank other ladies to make it to the top or protect what’s theirs. Numerous studies have peered into the toxic environment that females create at work. In many cases, women don’t like seeing other women succeed out of fear of being replaced or something. It’s a tad irrational, but things often get nasty.
The nice part is that after the game, where South Carolina beat Iowa 87-75, capping off the perfect season, Staley used her time on the stage to congratulate Clark and all she’s done for women’s basketball. It was a classy moment.
Dawn Staley to the crowd:
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) April 7, 2024
"I want to personally thank Caitlin Clark for lifting up our sport. She carried a heavy load for our sport... She's gonna lift that league [WNBA] up... You are one of the GOATs of our game and we appreciate you.”
Super classy 👏pic.twitter.com/jNGv1VEjcA