When it comes to basketball legends, Sheryl Swoopes has earned her stripes—and then some. But apparently, not even a Hall of Famer is immune to catching some heat, especially when they start throwing shade at the WNBA’s new golden girl, Caitlin Clark. Enter ESPN’s resident hype man, Stephen A. Smith, who decided it was time to hand out a reality check. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t pretty.
Swoopes, who’s practically synonymous with the WNBA’s early days, has been on a bit of a tirade lately, refusing to give Clark the credit fans say she deserves for the Indiana Fever’s recent success. Sure, Clark’s been breaking records, selling out arenas, and turning the Fever into must-see TV, but Swoopes? She’s having none of it. According to her, the Fever’s rise is all about Lexie Hull, Kelsey Mitchell, and Aliyah Boston—Clark who?
But Smith, who’s never met a mic he didn’t love, wasn’t about to let that slide. On his show, he went all in, numbers in hand, to defend Clark’s impact. “Look, I get it, Sheryl. You’re a legend. You practically invented the WNBA. But to deny what Caitlin Clark is doing for this league? Come on now, that’s like saying Michael Jordan didn’t help sell shoes,” Smith quipped, clearly revving up for one of his signature rants.
He didn’t stop there. With the fervor of a preacher on Sunday morning, Smith rattled off the stats—viewership through the roof, ticket sales that could make a scalper blush, and social media engagement that’s put the Fever on everyone’s radar. “No woman, no matter how great you were as a player, Sheryl Swoopes, should be downplaying what Caitlin Clark is doing for the game. Period. End of story,” he declared, probably waking up anyone who dared doze off mid-episode.
Fans, unsurprisingly, were quick to jump on the bandwagon. Reactions ranged from a standing ovation to eye-roll emojis, but the consensus was clear: Swoopes needs to give credit where it’s due—or at least stop throwing shade long enough to see what’s happening right in front of her.
But if you think this public schooling would make Swoopes back down, think again. The former WNBA star stood her ground like a seasoned defender in the paint. On her podcast, “Queens of the Court,” she doubled down, praising the Fever’s core players while continuing to act like Clark was some kind of basketball mirage.
“Lexie Hull, Kelsey Mitchell, Aliyah Boston—these are the names you should be talking about,” Swoopes insisted, leaving Clark out in the cold. The irony? Clark’s been leading the team on a winning streak, smashing rookie records, and turning the WNBA All-Star Game into a must-watch event, all while apparently being invisible to certain Hall of Famers.
Even as the numbers—and the fans—continue to side with Clark, Swoopes remains unmoved, throwing her support behind Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky, even after a brutal loss. But hey, if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that the WNBA drama is just as exciting off the court as it is on it. And with personalities like Swoopes and Smith in the mix, you can bet this saga is far from over.
So, what’s your take? Is Sheryl Swoopes just being stubborn, or does she have a point? Either way, one thing’s for sure—this isn’t the last we’ve heard of this basketball battle royale.