When it comes to Caitlin Clark, there’s no middle ground. You either adore her highlight reels or find yourself drowning in endless debates about her impact on and off the court. The Indiana Fever guard has been labeled many things, but “polarizing” might just top the list. And now, the Caitlin Clark fandom has found a new target for their collective ire: Joy Taylor.
Taylor, a Fox Sports host, is currently feeling the heat after a June 2024 clip resurfaced, in which she took a dismissive jab at the origins of Clark‘s popularity. For those who missed it, Taylor weighed in on Clark’s rise to fame with this eyebrow-raising commentary:
“We were not talking about Caitlin Clark before Angel Reese walked up to her, did this (the ‘You can’t see me’ gesture), and pointed to the ring.”
Yes, folks, Taylor suggested that one viral taunt during the 2023 NCAA Championship game was the sole spark behind the Caitlin Clark hype machine. Naturally, this take didn’t sit well with Clark’s army of fans, who quickly descended upon social media to dissect and dismantle Taylor’s words like a bad defensive scheme.
Twitter (or X) Went Wild
“Caitvoodoo strikes again!” one fan gleefully declared, invoking Clark’s mythical ability to haunt her critics. Another user clapped back at Taylor’s comment with some historical receipts:
“Yeh no one was talking about CC who, just the game before the final with LSU, put 41 points on the previous ‘undefeated’ South Carolina team to get to the final!!”
Another fan decided to point out the selective attention of the media:
“LMAO she is Right the MEDIA weren’t talking about her. But you know who were, ….ALL HER FANS.”
As the tweet-fest spiraled into unfiltered chaos, other fans connected Taylor’s questionable commentary to a completely unrelated scandal—because why not? A recent lawsuit alleged that Taylor’s career received a significant boost due to her personal ties with Fox Sports EVP Charlie Dixon. If social media’s theories are anything to go by, some believe Taylor’s latest hot take could be yet another dent in her credibility.
“Imagine doing what Joy Taylor did just to push lies about Caitlin Clark. Sad,” wrote one particularly unforgiving fan.
Enter the Jason Whitlock Show
While Joy Taylor’s take ignited a firestorm, another sports analyst took the opposite route and showered Caitlin Clark with the praise her fans felt she deserved. Columnist Jason Whitlock recently lambasted Sports Illustrated for snubbing Clark for their coveted Sportsperson of the Year award, which instead went to Simone Biles.
“This is a joke,” Whitlock ranted on X. “She (Biles) was relevant for 2 weeks this summer. Caitlin Clark and Shohei Ohtani were relevant for months.”
Sure, Biles might have racked up accolades during her brief return, but according to Whitlock, Clark’s 2024 season was nothing short of legendary. From buzzer-beaters to dismantling defensive schemes with precision, Clark dominated headlines for months, unlike those fleeting moments of Olympic magic.
Is Caitlin Clark the New “Sports Culture Flashpoint”?
Joy Taylor’s resurfaced comments and Jason Whitlock’s fiery rebuttal are just the latest chapters in the Caitlin Clark discourse. Whether she’s breaking ankles on the court or breaking the internet off it, Clark has become a cultural lightning rod in sports.
For now, though, one thing remains clear: when it comes to Caitlin Clark, debates are as inevitable as her pull-up threes. Whether you’re a fan, a critic, or someone who just wants to sip tea while Twitter wars rage, Clark’s ability to dominate the sports conversation remains unmatched.
Now, as for Joy Taylor—perhaps she’ll reconsider tangling with the Caitvoodoo magic next time. Or maybe not. After all, sports discourse wouldn’t be nearly as entertaining without a few questionable takes to spice things up.
