It’s that time again, folks—Sheryl Swoopes, WNBA legend and certified thrower of shade, has reloaded her criticism cannon and aimed it straight at Caitlin Clark. Yes, the Indiana Fever rookie sensation who’s been lighting up courts like your cousin trying to light fireworks indoors. But according to Swoopes, this firework might be more of a sparkler than a Roman candle. Ouch.
Clark, who’s posted pedestrian numbers like 19.5 points per game, 8.4 assists, and 5.7 rebounds—basically carrying the Indiana Fever from the depths of despair to playoff contenders—is apparently still not hitting “dominant” status in the eyes of the 3-time WNBA MVP. And just in case you were thinking Swoopes might let up? Nope. She’s doubled down like a basketball pundit with nothing but time and a podcast mic.
“Yeah, those are some hell of a numbers,” Swoopes quipped on Gil’s Arena podcast (because where else do athletes drop spicy takes?). “But to me, that’s not dominating.”
Wait, what? Clark is on the verge of scooping up the Rookie of the Year award and has even dipped her toes into the MVP conversation, but Swoopes is acting like she’s casually flipping through a lackluster stat sheet. For context: Aces’ A’ja Wilson might want to glance over her shoulder because Clark’s creeping up for that crown like a plot twist in a soap opera.
To recap, this is the same Swoopes who, back when Clark was tearing up the NCAA, predicted that neither she nor LSU star Angel Reese would dominate straight out the gate in the WNBA. And, in a twist only rivaled by mid-season TV cliffhangers, Swoopes stands by her hot take.
“I still don’t think she’s dominating, but she’s a different player than she was in the first half of the season,” Swoopes added. Gee, thanks for the backhanded compliment, Sheryl.
The Stats Don’t Lie—But Do They?
So, what’s the deal? If Clark’s current average of 24.5 points, 8.9 assists, and 5.4 rebounds post-All-Star break isn’t dominant, what is? Does she need to be dunking from half-court while solving world hunger on her lunch break? Maybe Clark needs a daily “Swoopes Checklist”—you know, so we can all know when she’s officially allowed to dominate.
Since July 19, Clark has only dipped below 19 points twice. Twice. I don’t know about you, but if that’s not consistent form, then Swoopes’ definition of “dominance” might be a moving target.
Playoffs, Baby! Who Will Laugh Last?
Here’s where the plot thickens. The Indiana Fever are headed into the playoffs (yes, the playoffs!) with a respectable .513 record, all thanks to Clark’s not-so-dominant numbers. But hey, numbers aside, the Fever find themselves in third place in the Eastern Conference with one final showdown against the Washington Mystics before the postseason madness begins.
Do we smell drama brewing? You bet. The Fever will hit the court on Thursday, September 18, at 7 p.m. ET, and all eyes will be on Clark—especially since Swoopes’ comments are basically plastered on every bulletin board in the Fever locker room. Will Clark channel this critique and go Super Saiyan? Or will Swoopes sit back, sip tea, and say, “I told you so”?
One thing’s for sure: the playoffs are about to get as spicy as Swoopes’ takes, and we’re here for every moment. Grab the popcorn. It’s about to be a show.