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ESPN star Stephen A. Smith urged on Wednesday that Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark was answerable for a number of the resentment towards her within the WNBA.
Smith and “First Take” panelists Monica McNutt and Christopher “Mad Canine” Russo broke down the skirmishes between Fever and Connecticut Sun gamers. Clark was on the receiving finish of an eye fixed poke from Solar guard Jacy Sheldon and was then bumped to the ground by Marina Mabrey.
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Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, #22, celebrates after scoring a 3-pointer throughout a recreation between the Indiana Fever and the New York Liberty at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on June 14, 2025. (Grace Smith-Imagn Pictures)
Clark and Solar gamers have been speaking trash all through the sport as tensions started to rise early and ultimately boil over. Fever guard Sophie Cunningham additionally received into the fray with a tough foul on Sheldon late within the recreation. Each gamers have been ejected.
Smith reiterated his stance that he believed there was “resentment” towards Clark however stated he had no drawback with the frenzy that passed off on the Gainbridge Fieldhouse, noting the extremely aggressive nature of all of the athletes on the court docket.
“Now, right here’s the factor about, as a result of I wish to be certain everybody understands what I’m about to say,” Smith started. “Caitlin Clark being that ‘golden goose’ per se, that ‘rising tide that’s lifting all boats,’ I stand by my previous proclamations that there’s resentment towards her due to that. However I wish to take it a step additional. There’s additionally resentment towards her as a result of she instigates resentment towards her generally. Oh, Caitlin can clap at ya now, Caitlin can antagonize ya now.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, #22, dribbles the ball whereas Connecticut Solar guard Jacy Sheldon, #4, defends within the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on June 17, 2025. (Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Pictures)
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, #22, seems to be on through the second half towards the Connecticut Solar at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on June 17, 2025. (Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Pictures)
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“Keep in mind, in school, the entire Angel Reese factor began as a result of when Caitlin was giving it to all people else, she was the one waving of their face and that’s why when Angel Reese and LSU received a complete of her, Angel Reese was like (waves hand in entrance of face), ‘Yeah, it’s your flip.’ That’s the place it got here from. It was instigated by Caitlin Clark. She received a comeuppance and he or she was sufficiently big to embrace it and settle for it and say, ‘Yo, I deserve it, it was my flip as a result of they received me good.”
Smith identified that Clark does her fair proportion of trash speaking and might dish it out in addition to anybody.
He then in contrast her to Boston Celtics legend Larry Hen.
“On prime of the truth that she may play … however she’s kinda like what Larry Hen was when Larry Hen was taking pictures the lights out and stuff like that however Larry Hen additionally talked junk,” he stated. “Dr. J was one of many nicest, sweetest individuals on the planet. Individuals have been saying he was making home calls, serving to invite the NBA into America’s front room, and Dr. J swung on Larry Hen. Why? As a result of Larry Hen says, ‘I’m gonna hit this jumper proper right here on you,’ Bam! ‘I’m gonna hit this 3 proper right here on you,’ Bam! … Caitlin Clark is that particular person as properly. The vitriol that she will get, a few of it’s self-induced, I simply occur to find it irresistible as a result of that’s sports activities.”
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, #22, celebrates after a three-point basket towards the Connecticut Solar within the second half of a WNBA basketball recreation in Indianapolis on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. (AP Photograph/Michael Conroy)
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The WNBA gave an extra wonderful to Cunningham for her involvement within the fracas after the Sheldon foul. She obtained a normal wonderful routinely for the Flagrant-2 foul. Mabrey’s technical foul was upgraded to a Flagrant-2 foul, and he or she obtained a normal wonderful for that.
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