In a recent episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast, NBA legend and TNT analyst Charles Barkley did not hold back his criticism of the treatment of WNBA rookie sensation Caitlin Clark. Barkley, known for his candid and often controversial opinions, expressed his frustration over what he perceives as a negative and unfair narrative surrounding Clark.
Caitlin Clark, who has taken the WNBA by storm since being drafted by the Indiana Fever, has been a focal point of both admiration and criticism. Her exceptional performance on the court has drawn significant attention, but not all of it has been positive. Barkley highlighted this dichotomy, pointing out that WNBA players, and the WNBA in general have f–ed this up badly, which he believes is rooted in jealousy and pettiness.
During the podcast, Barkley did not mince words.
“These ladies—and I’m a WNBA fan—they cannot have f—ed this Caitlin Clark thing up any worse if they tried. Just because people don’t like you or your personality, they can’t get on TV and slander you. It’s just total bullsh*t This girl is incredible. The number of attention, eyeballs, she’s bought the cards and the pros. And for these women to have this petty jealousness, you say to yourself, damn, what is going on here? And the thing I love about her, she never says a word. But these ladies who I love and respect their game, they couldn’t have f***ed this thing up any worse. There’s been so much negativity and a lot of it just petty jealousness.”
“They cannot have f—ed this Caitlin Clark thing up any worse if they tried.”
Charles Barkley sounds off against some of the WNBA media’s negative narratives that have surrounded Caitlin Clark this season.@BillSimmons pic.twitter.com/GrWbY5xiB4
— The Ringer (@ringer) September 4, 2024
