4-Time WNBA Champion Sue Bird Talks Caitlin Clark & More with Rich Eisen | Full Interview 

... the pro's went after Caitlin more than any other rookie... so it was an attack right away and Caitlin never provoked them... it was the media that set off the pros. Let that sink in.

Best 'adult' conversation about the W and CC I've heard so far. So Refreshing!

In time CC will break all the scoring records in the WBNA.

I don't think Caitlin ever disagreed with Diana, right!? I can't find anywhere in social media where Caitlin disagreed with Diana. You find it, show me.

Sue Bird is such a classy person and great player !

Seems like a bunch of new fans just expected Caitlin to continue like it was her college season. She is playing against people that have been playing significantly longer than Caitlin. She will adjust, but it will take time.

“She’s not even really getting that many great looks… she’s played two of the top defensive teams in the league.” I appreciate Sue adding more nuance to this. It’s more to sports than just a box score. If you watch the games anyone can see these teams have a target on her. Not many rookies come into the league being guarded like this. Caitlin isn’t just adjusting to the league, she’s adjusting from winning at Iowa to being in a stagnant offense/defense and losing. Some people keep mentioning Candace Parker’s transition into the league as a rookie, but they fail to mention Candace was drafted to the LA Sparks in 2008 and had Lisa Leslie a 10 year vet, All-Star, MVP, DPOY in 2008 - as a teammate. They made it to the Conference Finals that year. Playing with MVP caliber teammates and a coach that has won Championships makes the transition process a lot smoother. Caitlin needs grace not just because she’s adjusting to the league, but because the Fever are playing “super teams” with a defensive strategy to blitz, hammer, and pick her up at half court every possession. Teams can get away with this, because there are no other offensive threats on the Fever that they have to guard like that. This coach has to develop a system and draw up some plays to alleviate some of that pressure. They haven’t made it to the playoffs since 2016 and this may be another losing season for the Fever. This coach will def be on the hot seat if there aren’t any noticeable improvements by the end of the season.

Sue Bird such a wise woman. Thank you for being honest CC is special. Time is what she needs

Losing money 28 years in a row and the older players are being disrespected?????? And she is giving them a chance to actually make money for the first time in 28 years. Come on.

There is certainly credit due to the Sun and Liberty for defending Caitlin Clark. Yet one wonders if the Fever were more disjointed than any of the top college teams. It wasn’t a team but a group of individuals on their own trip.

Class act interview for both Eisen and and Bird discussing the impact of Clark and Clark's entrance into the WNBA

Sue Bird is knowledgeable enough to recognize that Indiana's team and coaching has been sub-par. Bird is just throwing shade on the downlow.

She has 70 points and 14 assists in 4 games how is she not doing good? 🙄🙄

Sue Bird might be one of the nicest people on the planet. High Five Sue Bird! High Five!

About myself, I played basketball from the age of 13 until my mid 40s. I coached boys and girls youth basketball teams and coached a men's team. Facts - 1. CC is Indiana's best player! 2. The team as a whole, including the coach, is not that good. Caitlin has to go through a learning and improvement stage but she is not the only one. What happens to Indiana during the remainder of this season depends primarily on the coach. 1. Think about what you say to the press if you want to keep the player's morale up. 2. The Bigs on the team need more individual guidance on ball handling, faking moves around the basket, more conditioning and Boxing Out which goes for all players. 3. Build the offense around Caitlin!

Wishing that people stop declaring a single person as basketball champion. It’s a team sport, not one where individuals are competing like boxing, weight lifting, athletics, swimming, etc. In a team of twelve players, you have to give credit to everyone.

The WNBA has the Fever schedule starting w/7 games in 12 days w/all but 1 game against a top 4 team, so that the WNBA could use CC to get attention for the top teams in the league & the Fever are using CC for her assist & how she pulls so many defenders from other players. The WNBA & Fever are killing their golden goose. Of course CC has to adjust to the stronger defenders she will meet in the WNBA, but I don't know how many rookies are getting full court coverage or double & triple teamed their first year either. And though she's a rookie, its just stupid for the Fever, a team that hasn't had more wins than losses since 2016, to get a player like CC & not let her be the main PG & run the plays. If they don't let her be the primary PG they will never figure out how to play to everyone's strengths. I don't care if they avg 20 TO a game while they figure out how to gel with her as PG. They're definitely not going to figure it out putting CC in the corner as a SG that no one ever passes to.

Oh btw Caitlin signed a multi million dollar contract with Wilson Basketballs today

"I give it a chuckle and move on, it's about growing the game" Sue Bird is awesome.

Look at the stats for these WNBA greats’ first 10 games - Sue Bird, Kelsey Plum, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Briann January. Sue knows all about great talent adapting to the next level. It takes a minute, and will happen.

Love sue bird Kelsey Plum and her probably had the most logical and sincere conversation I've heard from any WNBA player about Caitlin Clark that didn't come off as shade or jealousy.

bogus fouls will make you angry too.

This conversation is doing circles around the facts...the Fever is a crap team and Caitlin is an elite player..let her lead....the coach needs to find another profession

CC has been with her team for a few weeks, she’s a rookie and it takes time to build chemistry. Fans decide who they like, I feel she’s treated unfairly and hated by some. Great white WNBA players like Bird, Bre Steward or Taurisi didn’t have a big fan base like CC so it’s not just a race issue, Jamelle Hill. CC was an underdog who played college for her state team rather loaded talent programs like SC and UConn. I think her achievement with her average Iowa team and her long ball, passing ability and winning attitude is what made her attractive. I love watching her games and I am a Black man.

In her first 3 seasons in the WNBA, Kelsey Plum averaged 8.9 pts, 2.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists. Last game CC had 9 pts, 7 rebounds and 6 assists

SUE BIRD SEEMS LIKE A REALLY GREAT PERSON!

Please have Sue on more, she has a cool perspective

They going to make her a monster, she's young and intelligent 🎉🎉🎉

Great conversation!

Sue Bird is all class.

Love Sue Bird!!!

I am beginning to think the WNBA is a little like a sorority or fraternity there is hazing and an initiation rite. The NFL has had some of that in the past. That would explain some of how the first two games played out. Her team mates did not really help her in any number of ways.

Some perspective: first season stats: Kelsey Plum 8.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists; Sue Bird 10.4 points, 2.0 rebounds, 4.9 assists; Sabrina Ionescu 11.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 6.1 assists

Suzy with the A1 questions per usual

No one else realized @16:10 sue bird was 100% talking about rich eisen 😂😂😂😂😂

Kobe had humble beginnings as well

Sue is a stellar person

Neither of you have noted the Fever's terrible coaching, the slowness and general lack of fitness of many Fever players, and the extreme anti-CC bias of some of the refs w. the ticky-tack fouls while ignoring other players' prison ball tactics. *Several* of CC's turnovers have been due to her teammates fumbling the ball. Naturally Sue doesn't want to put down any current players, but she's unloading a lot of waffle here, other than pointing out all the double-teaming on CC. *Lots* of knowledgeable commentators have said everything I have. At the time I'm writing this it's become even clearer that the coach needed to teach her players to work with CC, not against her -- and they're now starting to do it.

She is ahead of Candace Parker in her 1st 8 games

TY Diane for keeping it real. 💯 No ones in the WNBA is hating. They all was just keeping it real. As they should 🙂

the trend in the WNBA is stars get on one team creating super teams .The Fever dont have that and judging Clark off wins makes zero sense at all. When teams have other great players on one team, maybe the Fever will start getting great players and veterans that would help

Well said👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻💯 Thanks for the refreshing perspective.

WNBA is called totally different than college. I was shocked how many moving picks were not called. Lots of obvious reach in fouls not called . It’s gonna be a long tough season adjusting. Candace was my favorite!

Nobody set screens to get clark open: every one at the top of the key while she dribbled, shameful

Caitlin Clark is a rookie who is above average in skill, this is a fact. But so many "Non-hoopers" have no clue as to the skill level changes that happen from HS to college, and from college to pro. For Caitlin to put up numbers against players who are extremely more talented then NCAA players is an achievement that gets overlooked. To age myself, I still remember both Larry Bird and Magic Johnson in the NCAA. Caitlin Clark is the real deal, she sacrifices so much in life due to her love of basketball. My hope is that she stays healthy and blocks out all the media BS while she develops. She was drafted by a team that needs work and a coach that needs replaced. That's enough on her shoulders.

LET CAITLIN BE THE LEADER WE KNOW SHE IS

Rich lost his way in this interview. The fever coach does not know what she is doing. Playing CC out of position. The league itself does not know how to market their new star

Sue bird one of the best of all times, and so classy much respect to her

I could listen to Sue Bird ALL DAY! However if she really wants to blow up,, she should dump the 'T' in her show and either do it solo or have someone other than that hater troll.

It's weird that people think Diana Taurasi, who is the all-time WNBA scoring leader, has the highest ppg in a season in WNBA history, averaged 17 ppg as a rookie, and has played more overall minutes in the WNBA than anyone in the league besides Sue Bird, isn't qualified to give her opinion about adjusting to the WNBA from college. But they, somehow, are.

Clark has more class than almost all of them

LMAO, I sure would like to know where Bird got the notion that viewership of the WNBA was on the rise. The 2023 WNBA viewer results was actually 200k less than the year before.

Sue Bird is a Class Act….. always has been❤️

I don’t get the victory lap by everyone. It’s the first game 2 games and she needs to work on improving. Everyone makes excuses for Lebron. Chill wnba fans. Chill

Listening to how people blame Caitlin for media hype is sad. She didn't ask for it. She just played her game. The disrespect from players and the outright abuse is awful.

Caitlin has only 20 9 22 and 17 points in her first 4 games

CC might have got me watching the WNBA but now that I am here I am super interested in Kia Nurse, Boston, and the other drafted rookies that I learned about while watching the NCAA finals this year. As a former female athlete I am having the time of my life watching the PWHL, NWSL and now the WNBA. Couldn't be more impressed with the level of play of these women and the entertainment factor they are providing on a nightly basis.

Sue, you're awesome as always! Love you, you're one of the greatest ever ballers and speakers! And I'm from TN. 😊

Good for Sue

Nobody cares unless it is Caitlin Clark.

She's going to get better. Not even the All Star break

BS. CC#22 fever don't let CC play her game and no good teammates. Stop it these ladies r playing hard as hell against 22. The hate is real

Caitlin has won already. If you’re talking about a player struggling while averaging 19pts a game in her first 3 games, she different

Never heard of Sue Bird.

Clark played before 56,000+ for 1 game at Iowa.

tied only 3 other players in history to reach over 138 points before 10 games look it up

❤ Sue Bird!!!!! True Champion!!!!!!

Bird like the rest of the WNBA doesn't want Clark to make an impact, they want to make an example of her.

Humble! Grateful! Why can't all of the other WNBA women be the same

Have no doubt-Caitlyn packed/packs the arenas-home and away.

fast forward 12 days and she puts up 30 points, 6 assist 3 blocks and 8 assist

Bird knows that Clark has a cash bounty on her, but refuses to say anything because it will expose what the WNBA is all about and then to defend all of the hatred Clark has received from players like Taurasi, Aja, and many others as well as from 9 head coaches including New York and Dallas by saying it's just a competitive thing between athletes is just utter bullshit. Aja is one of the most hateful racist players in the W, and would have never gotten that Nike deal if it wasn't for Clark.

What a terrible question the female host asked her frustration with being asked questions about Caitlin. Quit trying to make tension. Great answer Sue.

Sue is a lovely woman

Some of the people who are saying they are Caitlin Clark fans are really fake accounts. If you look at where they are coming from on their accounts they are really living in Louisiana. Plus, this year a ton are coming from Arizona and have ties to Diana Taurasi and/or UConn. Then these fake accounts say they are Caitlin Clark fans but rip ger teammates apart to try to create resentment and hate against Caitlin. This year has gotten so viscous and weird.

Good for you Sue Bird…..completely ridiculous question from whoever the blond is. Sue doesn’t have frustration regarding Caitlin!

The choreography of team basketball takes time-reading the nonverbal cues and rhythm of your team. But all these people want to excel. They will figure this out

Adjust to what being fouled all the time and the refs not calling the fouls. Her teammates standing around looking lost. Not setting screens for her or each other. A coach who sits there and does nothing to protect her players especially Clark. Some of her teammates not passing her the ball when she is wide open instead they pass to another teammate who is being double teamed or they take the shot themselves while being heavily covered.

Two-face.

Let's remember 1 year ago neither you or I had ever heard of this woman.

Sue is part of the culture. WNBA needs AA culture change.

CC deserves a better HC and better team mates. Fever needs to kick out Wheeler!

Ticket sells? Rating? And $$ 4000butts in seats now 19000 sell out now? Stop it

Idk why people keep saying the comment about adjusting to the WNBA level was controversial, to me it appears that they want to downplay how former players reacted to the fame Caitlins received. What people reacted to was when she said she looks like a super star playing against 18 year olds or when another former player said it took her 5 years to break the record.

This is crazy how Caitlin is being hazed like no other rookie in the history of the WNBA. She is being double guarded sometimes triple guarded. I have watched all the other teams play this season and some of the archived games from last year. NONE of the great players like Ionescu, Stewart, Taurasi, A'Ja Wilson and on and one are being guarded from the half court line and have people in their face constantly. From grade school to now to high school to college to now in the WNBA Caitlin has never badmouthed any teammates or opponents. She has lived in a gym because she loves sports. Her best friends are from all ethnic groups and nationalities. She could care less about politics and other people's agendas. She has sold out arenas for the WNBA. Brought viewers to games on TV and online. Been the most positive thing to happen to get people to follow the WNBA. Has said nothing but positive things about all the veterans of the WNBA... But is being hazed more than any other rookie in the history of the WNBA women veterans. Is this why people watch college basketball instead?

Caitlin is straight, white and talented playing in a MMA lesbian league. The cheap blind side shots are not basketball and she’s not the only one dealing with that

Blessings Sue

A great conversation 🏀🫶🏻 I appreciate Sue Bird’s perspective.

U jus gotta love sue. How not

She is much more mature than Diana. Diana is like a mean high school girl. If it wasn’t for Caitlin, I wouldn’t even so much as glance at a WNBA game. She made me interested in a league I never cared about.

She is averaging 17 ppg 4.3 RPG 5.7APG after 3 games.......and her team and coach don't even know how to play with her. WNBA will be in trouble when CC gets a little WNBA experience behind her.

Caitlyn is just being Caitlyn. Diana Swoops and the rest of them are showing thier immaturity.

I like Sue Bird. To be honest I never would have heard about her if not for Caitlin. The WNBA is pathetic. College ball is so much more fun. And the refs don't allow.prison ball. The hate and jealousy makes it hard to watch.

No one could pick Sue Bird out of a police lineup.

There was a negative vibe. I missed the commentary because frankly it is super boring and I just watched the game which is interesting.

Sides has to go

Sue Bird is living a fantasy if she thinks viewership of the WNBA was on the uptick before Caitlin. Nothing could be further from the truth. It was Caitlin Clark that gave the WNBA hope. Clark is not failing the Fever. The fever is failing Clark. As a seasoned player, Sue Bird should have said that during the interview. .I wish the old woman of the WNBA would all retire. They remind me of crotchy-old ducks.

02:24 "Shes not even getting that many great looks" - idk bout you, but even sue bird can see that the coach doesnt draw abything up for CC and that she has to get her oen. And even when she does, her own coach criticizes her for "dancing around". Well sh**, i guess that's why fever got the number 1 pick 2 yrs in a row and has been bad 3 straight seasons WITHOUT CLARK

We just tune in this wnb because of CC. So step back jealous dude😂

Sure would like to hear Sue Bird’s opinion on racism and the alphabet woke mob in sports. 🏀 She seems to have a good understanding of what is going on. CC is a person of good character and should be celebrated, or are people of good character now the enemy?