Sheryl Swoopes has already been dubbed as one of Caitlin Clark’s biggest critics, so it’s no surprise that when the world couldn’t stop talking about Caitlin being named TIME’s Athlete of the Year, the W legend didn’t have much to say. It was almost as if she wasn’t too eager to join the praise parade, even when it came to a topic that was personal to her. 

After the historical collab, CC opened up about her privilege as a white player in the WNBA, saying, “I want to say I’ve earned every single thing, but as a white person, there is privilege. A lot of those players in the league that have been really good have been Black players… The more we can elevate Black women, that’s going to be a beautiful thing.” 

She went on to emphasize the importance of lifting up Black women in sports and ensuring they get the recognition they deserve. So when Caitlin’s quote about her privilege and dedication to uplifting Black women was read on the “Gil’s Arena” podcast, everyone was waiting for Sheryl Swoopes’ response. 

While Gilbert Arena was quick to quip, “She has a great marketing team,” Sheryl’s reaction was… a little awkward. She simply let out a soft “WOW,” gave an expression that suggested “impressed,” and remained silent until the topic changed.

This isn’t the first time Swoopes has not been appreciative towards Clark, though. Even before the 2024 season began, Swoopes was already skeptical about Clark’s ability to translate her college success into the WNBA immediately. “Will Caitlin Clark be a good pro? Absolutely. Will Caitlin Clark come into the WNBA and do what she’s doing right now immediately? Absolutely not. Not gonna happen,” she asserted.

Then back in September, despite the 22-year-old’s impressive numbers in the WNBA, Sheryl didn’t exactly hand out compliments. Clark was averaging 19.5 points, a league-best 8.4 assists, and 5.7 rebounds, but Swoopes still wasn’t impressed. “Those are hell of a numbers,” she said, “But to me, that’s not dominating.”

Moreover, it’s not just the Indiana Fever star. She has been critical of some of the league’s other young stars, like Angel Reese. But there’s one exception to this pattern—Paige Bueckers. The 53-year-old has been brutal with her opinions, but when it comes to Paige, she’s been quiet. 

Sheryl Swoopes called out Caitlin Clark for age advantage, but remains silent on Paige Bueckers

Paige Bueckers, who was a top player in college and is now projected as the top pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, is getting a different treatment. One fan pointed out that, given Sheryl’s comments about Clark’s age on Gil’s podcast, she might be holding off on commenting about Bueckers, who is technically older than Clark when she entered the draft. 

“Sheryl Swoopes said Clark was a 25-year-old playing against 20-year-olds when Clark was 21, so by Swoopes’ math, I think Sheryl is thinking Paige is a ~28-year-old playing against 20-year-olds,” they commented.

It could be that Swoopes’s bias lies with Paige. After all, they’ve been seen together at events like the All-Star Weekend and courtside at Clark’s performances, and fans have noticed their bond. 

It’s hard to ignore that Paige and Sheryl seem to have developed a quiet camaraderie. For now, Caitlin Clark is already the reigning Rookie of the Year, and her presence in the WNBA is undeniable. Meanwhile, fans eagerly await Paige Bueckers’ arrival in the WNBA, with all eyes on where she’ll land in the draft. And we can’t wait for a showdown between Caitlin and Paige in the future. Who knows? Maybe Swoopes will finally break her silence then.