Reaction to WNBA players unfairly criticizing Caitlin Clark | Nightcap 

Listen, I'm a season ticket holder for the Mystics. We decided to sell our tickets for when Clark comes to town for the one game and those two tickets paid for our entire season tickets for the 2025 season. So you tell me there is no such thing as the Clark effect! We've been not only season ticket holders but we also travel to a number of away games as well and I can tell you ticket prices have increased EVERYWHERE and people are showing up. Appreciate this rookie class and what they are bringing to the league that will propel it to another level that to this point has only been a dream.

If she was truly expected to dominate the wnba right out the gate then the wnba and all the other players are trash

For the records, the ACES didn't give their players $100,000 each, The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority did for sponsorship.

I just want them to bring the Houston Comets back!

i dont want to hear it when Angel Reese was crying talking about the hate she gets nobody cared or gave her grace.

Family Guy episode still hits. "Men we know how to be friends" 😂😂😂

i swear a lot of these talking media heads listen to rumors more than the fans do

That’s not why they complaining it’s because it’s players who won Championships and MVP and getting paid nothing while Clark is made 20 mill before she even played a game

When people were going crazy on Angel Reese, they told her to suck it up.

This is dumb as hell. Yall just not used to seeing women scrap for real. No one is going to take it easy on her just cuz she’s hyped up. Bron brought this same energy to the NBA & nobody was talking about the NBA players need to quit hating & let him cook.

Caitlyn, thank you for filling our arena on your recent away game to our city. We were only selling 3k seats, with you here, we sold the place out. That helps US, and you arent even in our organazation. Thank you.

ESPN is pushing Catlin Clark at nauseam it’s impossible for her to be normal .it’s easy to get fatigued by all of the coverage of her alone. Like damn we get it! She’s good! Let her have a career before we start granting her superstar status imo

I don't get it. If other Fever players were giving Clark a hard time, then I would agree that such actions are unfair. But players on the other teams are supposed to try to beat you, crush you, humiliate you on the court. They should use every opportunity to make themselves look good at your expense. What are they supposed to do? Let Clark win? Let Clark dominate them? Fans are not like this with opposing teams? Why should players be that way?

People rather hate on you, than celebrate with you... today's mindset 😒

1) Teams flew on chartered flights prior to this season. 2) Teams have played on national Tv for years. 3) You really think players never got sponsorships before???..... These are men who have no idea what they are talking about.

I haven’t seen 1 WNBA player talk bad about her since the season started

Hate? Mad? Yall sound like sit down n word and be happy wit ya scraps. It doesn’t mean someone is hating or mad just because they make an analysis from their perspective based on things they see. The difference between Caitlin and the black stars is Caitlin didn't have to ask for any of that, she was given all that; and if you don't think that's a problem in your position, then you're part of that problem.

The Three Blind Mice! I dont think its the players are jealous. I think its the media. No player is not gonna not play so she can win. This has nothing to with one or the other.

You two are really going crazy. THEY ARE NOT HATING ON HER! This is competition. There is no ANIMOSITY. You guys and those in the media like y'all started this. They're not hating on her. At the same time, they're not supposed to let her have it easy. She's a rookie. They are actually helping her and the league as well. If she handles the pressure, it becomes better. If they fold and play weak just so she can score, it becomes worse.

Well this wasn't a smart take from any of all... Everybody complaining about the players in the WNBA as if they're supposed to just lay down and let Caitlin Clark dominate. Nobody has came out and demeaned Clark or talked down on her in anyway. This is clown shit right here lol.

Why????..I haven't heard one player say anything about her it's the media..they shouldn't kiss her ass make her earn it

For clarification: Are they saying WNBA players shouldn't complain that Caitlyn Clarke is getting so much attention despite being mediocre by comparison because she's bringing more recognition to the league?

It's not Clark's fault. It is the fault of the media. She is not the greatest player to enter the WNBA, but media types want you to believe that she is.

The amount of people making excuses for clark is SICK! Folks aren't hating on her, they've realized the privilege's that she has been awarded. Great player and full of talent, but lets not act like people were literally saying she would come in and dominate the league. I saw a video of dude saying that they were playing TOO HARD on her? Isn't this basketball. Folks are clueless!

No it’s not when media prop her up so much & she hasn’t won anything & she’s giving all the credit for women’s BBall & she hasn’t been here long enough….

They not hating on Caitlin Clark they just said anything any other competitors and opponents would she’s good but she is still going to get use to it and everybody keep saying one woman is responsible for the entire advancement of the league. These dudes just don’t pay enough attention to it. Cant point out one player that was actually hating on Caitlin. Aces were flying private before and games were on tv lol

If anybody should have understood competition and rookie treatment in professional sports, it should have been these two. They are acting like the opposing teams are supposed to lay down and let her win to continue a hype train. Is it possible that maybe, just maybe, Caitlin Clark is overrated? I'm sure every professional football player had their "welcome to the NFL" moment. Especially if they came in arrogant with the media saying she is going to take over the sport. Taurasi was right. Reality derailed the hype train.

This is so sad, these are two successful men saying that women are hating and playing dirty. It's called defense and competition. I haven't heard one player say hateful things about CC, Caitlan loves to compete.

The sport is not getting the attention. She is. ESPN only aired her games. That's the issue

No one is hating on her specifically. I’ve yet to see one damn thing of someone downplaying her talent. Not once. What people are annoyed about are the fans that put her on a pedestal. Yall talking about a league you don’t even watch! Women have been balling for years, sponsorship has been growing etc. yes she is good. Yes she brings attention. But everyone is riding on her like if she fails the league fails. Did yall even watch jewell Lloyd cook last night? No one even mentioned her. Fucking wild. All these new fans aren’t here to support the W. They are here for Caitlin and it shows. How do make digs about them for wanting more investments and viewership when yall ain’t doing it yourselves?? “Wear bakinis” “lower rims” that’s not basketball.

So u drop your competitive nature for cash? U let Caitlin get a pass? Nah. I think they should keep that pressure on. Either she'll swim or she'll sink.

Seventeen minutes, you all couldn't mention one person that hated on her. We know what she brings into the league. Guys didn't say anything new here.

Its not just Caitlin clark them girls have been talking shit to each other for years all the way back to the very first year! So y is it a problem now! Talking trash is part of basketball

Why should the other players take it easy on CC. Why shouldn’t they have her prove she’s has good as ppl say she is

I really hate that people are acting like Catlyin Clark is the only one bringing eyes to the game. The only reason a lot of us know her is because of Angel Reese and the incident between them last year with the "you can't see me" gesture. CC is a good player but Angel Reese is the one that made her famous

No player's are saying anything negative about her. Majority of the media are praising her. So you want WNBA teams to let her win.

She's getting exposed in the wnba yea she brought exposure and all but she's gettin exposed in there we not blind lol. Everybody was talkin down on angel Reese and she winning but nobody talks about her like they do clark

You can't talk about all this supposedly, undeserved hate she is receiving without also talking about all of the undeserved love she is receiving. Because one created the other.

Okay so what did Michael Jordan do when faced with the Detroit Pistons who shut him down?

I have been a fan of the WNBA for many years and I follow a lot of the players and media stories about the league. I truly have not heard WNBA players criticizing Caitlin. Saying she needs to win a championship to be the greatest of all times falls in line with an opinion shared by many, in both the men’s and women’s game. Saying she’ll have to adjust to the league is not hate or criticism. It’s what they all had to do. I wish people would stop pushing that narrative. It’s so uncomplimentary to women and not based in fact

The most overused, word, hate. Everyone is not going to like wht u do, wear, sing, act or whatever. Ppl just so sensitive, like children. Everyone have their right to an opinion. Shhh just getting shoved dwn onto us. I dnt watch wnba &never will

Angel Reese came the same time Caitlin Clark. So you are leaving Angel Reese out the equation.

I don’t understand how people were hating. Diana Taurasi said there would be an adjustment period. Which has proven to be true. But Shannon himself said that she was hating.

The aces flew charter last year 😂😂

In the future, make an effort in citing Caitlin Clark without putting Angel Reece in the same remark. (I just want to see if you're capable...)

Caitlin should accept Ice cubes offer instead of wnba.

For the past 2 yrs, Amazon Prime and Ion have broadcast WNBA games every Thursday and Friday. The WNBA opposed charter flights because not every team owner paid for them and the W said it was unfair to smaller market teams. PLEASE do your research when talking WNBA or have a current or former player join the podcast. A REAL WNBA FAN

It’s not the wnba players, it’s the fans of the wnba that’s talking all this stuff about her. I think this is first time the wnba is in the news like this so we hearing EVERYTHING from the media and social media fans. It’s new for everyone, this is normal in the nba. This is gonna be a great thing long term. Let the fans talk, that’s never gonna end. As long as the wnba players are finally getting the perks they shoulda been had, is the real W.

That’s BS so they should just let her score. Y’all sound like fools!!!

This is why some say some black men don't protect black women, when it was Angel Reese crickets, but Caitlyn all of these crickets are singing their ass off and lecturing wnba players on what they should be doing. Nobody hates CC, she's just getting baptized on the difference between college and the pro. She'll be alright

Honest critique or scrutiny is not hate people . Ever heard of constructive criticism or differing opinion ? Everyone doesn't like the same thing or see things the same way . That's healthy . It promotes growth & objectivity .

What players are hating?? This narrative is washed already

Two black men never highlighting angel or Aja is CRAZY! Angel has affected winning way more than Caitlin and it’s not close

This was extreme misinformation. And very disgusting to say. Shannon and Gil should be embarrassed

Don’t blame her, it’s the media fault. We putting way too much pressure on this girl. She doesn’t even look happy most of the time

It’s the media coverage y’all giving her but didn’t give that coverage before Diane taurasi didn’t get this much hype and she’s better

I think the greater issue is that, she’s is moving the needle not bc of her talent alone. Sneaker deals from Nike, wilson basketball deal, etc. as a result of America choosing sides in iowa vs lsu (black vs white/ bad vs good) huge base of her support bc she is from Iowa and middle aged white men and teens are supporting. Aja Wilson has been just as dominant and done more. Gil saying “they couldn’t do it” is bc of things outside of their control. “Someone broke down the walls” how did she do that? The hate isn’t necessary but I can’t see how and why the players before her are salty and realizing that even in sports skin tone and shade matter. Ig comments and anything involving wnba discourse was, “these women suck” “who cares about wnba” now that Clark is the face it’s ultimate praise for woman’s basketball and it’s so popular. Caitlyn Clark isn’t the first phenomenal college women’s basketball player. What’s the difference between Caitlyn Clark and Candace Parker or Skylar diggins? Angele Reese actually was the face of everything last year. White American made sure they were going to support Clark as a result of lsu vs iowa(black vs white) Clarke is getting the support from middle aged white men and women which are primary supporters of college women’s sports.

I haven’t heard any wnba players talk bad about her. The issue was how she was the only rookie getting attention and she out there getting rocked right now.

Absolute BS the WNBA were taking private flights in 2022. The Aces were the first team to do so.

Caitlin is a defensive liability out there though

I stopped following ESPN, bleacher report & others due to only covering drama/mess they’ve built up in their own mind about the WNBA instead of covering the game like they do other sports. They never cover the game of the women sports only drama/mess they make up in their mind. This is loud & wrong. They started taking charted flights for back 2 back & playoffs 2022. Indiana Fever has nothing to do the Las Vegas Aces. 205 games out of the 240 were on national platforms last year. Neither of these “gentlemen” have actually sat down & watched WNBA games. Lol loud wrong & messy these “gentlemen” are. Truly sad & pathetic. Before you’re loud & wrong “gentlemen” start doing your research & provide some facts. 🤷🏽‍♀️

You guys are scared to address the elephant in the room. lol this is everything about race…..

I need help understanding which WNBA player complained?? Because they’re saying that they’re not grateful but i haven’t heard a single player say anything bad about CC.. they only asked for more coverage.. its been the fans complaining so idk how this all got pinned on the players

According to Gil let her pick her teammates instead of winning fairly build a superteam , WWE it. GTFOH

What y’all want them to do?? Let her score? Let her win? They not even addressing her. Y’all mad cuz they in her pocket on the court?

Haven't heard any hate from any current players but they compete hard against her. I hear all hate coming from fans and media. Be specific about who you are accusing

Gil made the most sense on this topic

Unfair criticism? How about the unfair praise and treatment she received in college. It is just a dose of reality.

Angel Reese had/have as much to do with the eyes on the league as Caitlin. Most of us didn’t know who Caitlin was until she ran into Reese

I'm trying to figure out who these dudes are talking about was hating on Caitlyn. I haven't seen or heard any interviews on WNBA players hating on her, am I missing something 🤔

What's not being talked about is the fact the games were packed and exciting here in Houston back when the Comets were winning championships and Cynthia Cooper was the show. Yes the money was and still is different but the games were exciting, atleast here in Houston.

Every player in the WNBA should be highly offended by this commentary. WTF do yall expect them to do let her score? Let her win? As a basketball fan I don’t wanna see that shit

The problem is with the fans and how we want ownership of a player's stardom. Fans don't like it when they *think* they're being told who to like. That's why fans love underdogs, we want to claim something before everyone else does. If someone is the "next coming" there are a large number of people who automatically hate it because they don't get to call it first.

I thought that all rookies had a hard way to go.

SOME BLACK FOLKS ARE SO CRAZY, THEY ARE BLINDED BY MONEY AND DON'T EVEN SEE THE DISRESPECT. JUST CRAZY THIS MAKES ME WANT TO UNSUBSCRIBE TO NIGHT CAP

I guess they should let her win too 🤣🤣

Sooner or later Clark’s gonna have to produce on the court or all that money is gonna stop.

I’ve been watching the WNBA since 1997 but I never thought I would see this much attention to the W!!! It’s actually mind blowing. They need to enjoy it.

They flew charter during the playoffs only. You guys don't have a clue. The games were always on TV. I have been watching games for 28 years on TV

There’s only hate because people keep trying to force her “greatness “ on us when there are clearly better players in the league.

This is embarrassing. Everybody speaking on this for the past 24 hours has been embarrassing. Just f'king embarrassing.

He started out with a false narrative🤦🏿‍♂️ Those things were in motion before she got there

Feels like listening to TMZ not athletes cus this convo ain't have 1 mention of a dribble

Awww poor shannon the poor lil wyt girl is catching fair criticism. Where the hell were you when the racists were attacking Reese ???? For no reason at all

It's not hate, it's just annoying. She's gonna shit on everybody, she's the new GOAT, she's the face of the league.... Like just fuck everybody else that put in work, and still worked hard.

This is some malarkey!

How these women don’t realize that if a new rookie comes in and her shoes sell well, her jersey sells well, all the games are sold out…it shows the companies that the WNBA is marketable and it will obviously lead to more deals for more players etc.

😂😂😂 yall black men going out sad trying yall best to hype up the white great hope.

0:59 wtf she got to do with Vegas ? Fuck are you talking bout

I said it all along that the wnba would benefit from CC. I don't agree with the league making it easier for her. Simple, step your game up or get embarrassed. As a competitor, no one should be given a easy path or change the rules. MJ got beat up for years but he got a solid team around him and worked on his game

One thing I don’t like about Unc is he always caping for them folks and we all know it. He hold us to the top standard but give the dominant society all the passes. Pay Attention who he worship. Ocho just has no sports education at all.

Can’t lie Caitlin Clark got me watching a wnba game lmao the product was trash but her pulling up from 30 was crazyyy it sounded like an nba crowd lol I’ll stick to her highlights from now on .

You'll have to thank Angel Reese's ring finger for all of that!!!!!

To be honest, it is probably the best thing for the credibility of the league that everyone crushes clark competitively. It's a way to show that there are real stars with real pedigree that exist in the league already, and it allows them to showcase their talents

They not taking about this chick! It’s the damn media!! Get over it!

The people just now watching WNBA games think the aura just started.

Selling the soul for a dollar

Ask the average person to name one WNBA player: "Caitlin Clark". Ask them for a 2nd name: "Angel Reese". Okay, bonus round, give me a 3rd: "Umm, that dude that was locked up in Russia"

Wnba was televised prior to Caitlin. When you buy a car, you see everywhere. More eyes are now on the wnba now. The players are not hating on Caitlin. It is the media wanting the players to hate. Gil... all i remember about your tenure in the nba is the gun incident and lebron whispering in your ear at the free throw line.

Have that same energy when Angel was getting criticized. Y'all was in this adamant about it we all know the real deal on why she's getting criticism and we also know why she's getting applauded. And it has something to do with something outside of basketball. It's the elephant in the room