“Come on, Sheryl Swoopes, come on, you are so much better than that.” It was once again Caitlin Clark who was the focal point of the discussion when Stephen A. Smith came in support of the rookie guard and dismissed Sheryl Swoopes for not mentioning the rookie’s brilliance for the Indiana Fever’s success and the league’s popularity. While Swoopes already had a quick response ready for Smith, the former WNBA star did not hold back from her some strong remarks.

The WNBA veteran took her rage for Smith to the next level when she replied to one of the tweets on X about Smith’s statement. Swoopes wrote on her X, “Not sure what he thought he was doing? He still in his feelings about MM putting him in his place. I’m ready to go on his show!! Coward” It seems Swoopes also hinted towards Monica McNutt thrashing Smith for not talking about women’s basketball until Clark entered the league. “Stephen A., respectfully, with your platform, you could’ve been doing this three years ago if you wanted to,” McNutt fired a few months back.

Swoopes’ attitude towards Clark is a no-hidden truth as she has been vocal about the rookie throughout the 2024 WNBA season, and this past week was no different. Recently, she highlighted the Indiana Fever’s progress but notably omitted Clark from her praise. Instead, she lauded Aliyah Boston, Kelsey Mitchell, and Lexie Hull for their contributions. However, Clark has been a driving force for the Fever since the WNBA resumed again.

After returning from the Olympic break, Caitlin Clark has not only led her team on a winning streak but also set a new rookie assists record. Her stellar performance drove a surge in ticket and merchandise sales, marking a significant boost for her team. Considering all of that together, Smith couldn’t resist himself to call out Swoopes. Let’s throw some light on his statements for the WNBA veteran.

Stephen A. Smith’s statements on Sheryl Swoopes ignoring the Caitlin Clark effect

Stephen A. Smith tackled the ongoing criticism of Caitlin Clark head-on as he discussed the issue on his show. The

ESPN expert highlighted that Caitlin Clark has truly transformed the WNBA as she has significantly boosted the fan base and has attracted impressive viewership numbers. Well, Smith’s statement does hold weight as Clark’s games have drawn an impressive 1.184 million viewers, a significant leap from the usual 428,000 who watch other games.

“

Sheryl Swoopes, take notes. You ain’t playing no more. You’re a Hall of Famer and a champion and a basketball savant. you know good and damn well, you had no business talking about the Indiana Fever without mentioning Caitlin Clark,” said Smith, which felt like arrows shot direct toward the former Houston Comets star.

Well, it was not the first time, as Swoopes has been reluctant to credit Clark earlier as well. Just last month, the veteran argued that the Fever would still make the playoffs without Clark and

‘she [Clark] is just a passer’. Nevertheless, Clark has made a significant impact this season, pushing the Fever into playoff contention, where they currently sit as the seventh seed.

Stay tuned for more such updates. Join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show.” Our host, BG12, sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.