In the world of sports hot takes, it seems Caitlin Clark can’t escape the crossfire—this time coming from none other than the ever-controversial sports commentator, Jason Whitlock. Clark, the Indiana Fever’s rising star, has been accused of doing something many athletes in high-pressure leagues do: voicing her opinion (often, and loudly). Apparently, that’s enough for Whitlock to compare her to LeBron James. Yes, you read that right.
The 22-year-old sensation, averaging an impressive 19.5 points per game, 5.7 assists, and 8.4 rebounds in her rookie WNBA season, has been putting on a show that Fever fans can’t get enough of. But Whitlock, never one to let statistics or common sense get in the way of a spicy take, jumped on X (formerly Twitter) to make sure his followers knew just how fed up he is with Clark’s alleged antics.
“It’s official. Caitlin Clark is LeBron James,” he posted dramatically, as if we didn’t just witness LeBron and his four NBA titles. He continued: “She just laid a defender out with a Derrick Henry stiff-arm and the refs didn’t even consider blowing a whistle.” To top it off, Whitlock sealed his rant with a kicker: “Plus she whines way too much. I can’t take it.”
Wait, what? Derrick Henry? Really? Does anyone else feel like we’re comparing apples to rocket ships here?
Now, to be fair, Clark did have a little run-in with Dallas Wings’ Jacy Sheldon during the Fever’s recent win, where she might’ve used her elbow to clear some space. But hey, in the heat of battle, elbows tend to find their way into places they shouldn’t. A foul call? Maybe. But a full-blown comparison to Derrick Henry trucking defenders in the NFL? That’s a leap only Whitlock could take.
Sure, Clark’s fiery demeanor has landed her six technical fouls this season—just one short of a suspension—but she’s hardly begging for superstar treatment like Whitlock implies. She even addressed the possibility of a tech with a laugh, saying, “Well, I didn’t think they were gonna give me a technical at any point tonight,” after their win over the Wings. If you ask us, that’s more like playing it cool, not being “too entitled.”
But let’s dig into what might really be irking Whitlock. It seems his heart lies elsewhere: “Kelsey Mitchell is my fav player,” he tweeted. Ah, now we get it! The man’s been Clark-snatched from his first love—Kelsey Mitchell, Clark’s teammate who’s been overshadowed by the rookie’s meteoric rise. Maybe this is less about Clark’s alleged whining and more about a sports crush gone sour?
Regardless, Clark’s critics might want to take a deep breath before casting too many stones. With Rookie of the Year and possibly even MVP honors on the horizon, she’s just getting started. And let’s not forget, she’s the one helping the Fever float a .513 record, far from the bottom-dwelling Washington Mystics, whom the Fever face next.
Speaking of the Mystics, Thursday’s game will be pivotal for both teams. Rooted at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, the Mystics are desperate to save face. Meanwhile, Clark will be there, most likely racking up more points and—if we’re lucky—a few more complaints to keep the narrative alive.
If Whitlock and his complaints about complaints sound a bit like déjà vu, it’s because they are. LeBron has heard it all before. And now, apparently, so has Caitlin Clark.
So the next time Jason Whitlock decides to weigh in, maybe he should consider that, like LeBron, Clark’s going to keep talking—because talking, and playing, are two things she does better than most.