It is supposed to be a moment of looking forward. Caitlin Clark ended a spectacular run at Iowa and is heading to the WNBA. She may have not won a title but she became a national treasure and more importantly, an inspiration. Dawn Staley, this year’s NCAA championship-winning coach with the South Carolina Gamecocks, thanked her for doing that. But polarizing commentator Jason Whitlock is not moving on. He went after Coach Staley for her belated praise for Clark. Enter Whitlock’s strongest critic and NBA legend, Eddie A. Johnson.

Using clown emojis to refer to Whitlock, he wrote on X, “Caitlin Clark is quietly screaming in a room, Will this [clown emoji] stop trying to get attention off my name by acting like he is supporting anything about me. This [clown emoji] ripping a great coach who is a leader for young people at the highest level and he does zippo! Rodeo rider for clicks!”

This came in response to a scathing take by Whitlock, where he said, “Dawn Staley congratulated Caitlin Clark after the game yesterday. People have been bullying and smearing Clark all year long, and Staley could’ve spoken up anytime, but she waited until after she beat her in the championship to give Clark any support.”

In the immediate presser after winning the title game, Staley praised the strongest opponent her team had faced. “I want to personally thank Caitlin Clark for lifting up our sport.” She further went on to say, “She carried a heavy load for our sport and it’s just not going to stop here on the collegiate tour, but when she is the number one pick in the WNBA draft, she’s going to lift up that league up as well.”

She also referred to Clark as the GOAT and had immense appreciation for her. For most people, Staley’s words resonated with the common sentiment about Clark and the legacy she’s left in Iowa and college basketball. But not for Whitlock.

Caitlin Clark’s body of work needs appreciation, not comparison

It’s undeniable that Clark has gone through an unfair smear campaign. She’s mostly handled it with remarkable strength and let her game do the talking. Last year, she was especially criticized for her dismissive gesture towards South Carolina’s Raven Johnson. But Johnson took that as motivation to work on her weakness and she was the strongest guard against Clark in this revenge game. She even credited Clark for giving her that motivation.

READ MORE: No. 1 WNBA Draft Pick Caitlin Clark Gets High Praise From Patrick Beverley With Petty Reply to Her Critics

For all intents and purposes, Clark, along with youngsters like Angel Reese, Kamilla Cardoso, and Paige Bueckers, have elevated women’s basketball with their rivalry and unprecedented play. So fans don’t appreciate Whitlock pushing a narrative of pitting the reigning game-changers of women’s basketball against each other.

Hence, many are agreeing with Eddie A. Johnson. Most also say that making the female athletes out to be vindictive is undoing all of Clark’s work of increasing visibility on them. But there’s one thing they disagree with Johnson on. Fans are very sure Clark neither knows Whitlock or heard of his comments. She’s tough that way.

READ MORE: Caitlin Clark Alone Did Not Impact the Women’s Basketball Team, Argues Disappointed NBA Veteran