In a world where the WNBA and NBA worlds occasionally collide, it seems New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray couldn’t resist firing a cheeky three-pointer at none other than WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes, all while playfully questioning Caitlin Clark’s rookie dominance. And guess what? He did it in just three words.
“She’s not DOMINATING,” Murray quipped under an Instagram post that flaunted Caitlin Clark’s jaw-dropping record-smashing rookie season stats, spicing up his comment with a sprinkling of laughing emojis. I mean, we get it, Murray – sometimes words just don’t suffice without emojis, right?
But what prompted this spicy comment from the 28-year-old NBA star? Well, rewind a little to a recent episode of Gil’s Arena, where three-time WNBA MVP Sheryl Swoopes decided to downplay Clark’s achievements with her own hot take: “Those are hell of a numbers, but, to me, that’s not dominating.” Swoopes was quick to acknowledge the sheer volume of Clark’s numbers, but she clearly wasn’t buying the whole “rookie sensation” storyline. Ouch.
Murray, ever the instigator (or maybe just bored during preseason), couldn’t resist doubling down on Swoopes’ comment – because what better way to stir the pot than by tossing out a few words on Instagram?
Clark’s Records – Dominating or Nah?
Let’s take a second to humor Murray and Swoopes – is Caitlin Clark really dominating? I mean, sure, she’s only leading the WNBA in assists with 8.4 per game and dropping 19.2 points like it’s nothing. She’s also grabbed 5.7 rebounds for good measure. Oh, and did we mention she’s shooting a cool 41.7% from the floor while casually nailing 34.4% of her shots from downtown? But hey, according to Swoopes, that’s just another day at the office.
Clark also set the rookie record for most 3-pointers in WNBA history with 122 bombs from beyond the arc – but Sabrina Ionescu’s still holding onto the single-season crown by a sliver (Clark fell just seven treys short). And to add insult to record-breaking injury, she posted two triple-doubles in her first season. Two. Triple. Doubles. Oh, and let’s not forget her 14 double-doubles, breaking her franchise’s record for most in a single season. Just rookie things, right?
So, What’s the Beef Between Murray and Swoopes?
It’s hard to tell if Murray was just stirring up some fun or if he was seriously siding with Swoopes on the whole “not dominating” narrative. Either way, his comment has sparked some debate in both the WNBA and NBA circles. Maybe Murray, fresh off a blockbuster trade to the Pelicans, is just testing his trash-talking skills before the new season begins. (We see you, Dejounte.)
But hold up – while Murray’s roasting and Swoopes is downplaying, Caitlin Clark is quietly (or not-so-quietly) leading the Indiana Fever into the playoffs in her debut WNBA season. With all those records already stacked up, Clark has everything to prove in the postseason – and who knows? Maybe the next time Murray opens his Instagram, he’ll see a few more records shattered by Clark… and then what will he say?
The Final Assist? Clark’s Just Getting Started
While Murray’s throwing jabs from the sidelines and Swoopes is playing the role of the tough critic, Caitlin Clark is out here continuing to write her own script. And if this is what she’s doing in her rookie season, we can’t wait to see what she does next.
So, whether she’s “dominating” or just casually breaking records, one thing’s for sure – Caitlin Clark’s going to keep giving us something to talk about. And if she happens to toss in a few more triple-doubles along the way? Well, let’s just hope Murray and Swoopes have plenty of emojis left to use.