When you think of legendary WNBA beefs, you might recall some on-court shoving or a heated Twitter spat. But leave it to Sheryl Swoopes, the queen of cool under pressure, to take a different approach—by saying absolutely nothing. Yes, you read that right. The six-time All-Star and four-time WNBA champion, known for her candid takes, has apparently mastered the art of the silent treatment. And her latest target? None other than the red-hot rookie sensation, Caitlin Clark.
Picture this: Clark, the Indiana Fever’s unstoppable star, is out there racking up accolades like they’re on sale. She’s tying records, setting new ones, and basically making the WNBA her personal playground. Her latest feat? Matching Atlanta Dream’s Rhyne Howard with 85 three-pointers—the most by a rookie. But when the cameras zoomed in on Swoopes during a recent broadcast, just as co-commentator Ron Thulin was gushing over Clark’s achievement, Swoopes decided to zip it. Not a word. Just a quick glance at the game clock, and she was back to talking shop the second the whistle blew.
It didn’t take long for Clark’s fans, ever the eagle-eyed sleuths, to catch the snub. A clip of Swoopes’ strategic silence went viral faster than you can say “triple-double,” sparking a flurry of fan theories. Was it a case of professional jealousy? A deep-seated beef? Or just Swoopes being Swoopes?
This isn’t the first time the WNBA legend has given Clark the cold shoulder. On her podcast, “Queens of the Court,” Swoopes recently handed out bouquets to three Indiana Fever players—Lexie Hull, Kelsey Mitchell, and Aliyah Boston—crediting them for the team’s post-Olympic success. But guess who didn’t get a shout-out? That’s right, Caitlin Clark. The same Caitlin Clark who’s been dropping 25 points, dishing out nine assists, and grabbing five rebounds per game like she’s playing in a video game on easy mode. Oh, and did we mention she also broke the rookie record for most assists in a season? But apparently, that’s not impressive enough to make Swoopes’ highlight reel.
Even ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith couldn’t resist chiming in on the drama. “No matter how great you were as a player, Sheryl Swoopes, there is no woman who should negate mentioning Caitlin Clark and what she is doing for the game,” he declared on his YouTube channel, probably while waving his arms around for emphasis. Smith’s got a point—love her or hate her, Clark is taking the WNBA by storm, and ignoring her achievements is like trying to ignore an elephant in the room. Or in this case, an elephant who can drain threes from the logo.
As Clark continues to light up the court and push the Fever to new heights, one has to wonder: What’s really going on behind the scenes? Is there more to this silent feud than meets the eye? Or is Swoopes just playing a game of psychological chess, waiting for the right moment to strike?
Whatever the case may be, one thing is clear: Caitlin Clark’s star is only getting brighter, whether Swoopes wants to acknowledge it or not. And as the season progresses, you can bet fans will be tuning in, not just to watch Clark’s next move, but to see if Swoopes will finally break her silence—or continue to throw shade with nothing but a knowing smile.
