Sheryl Swoopes' Caitlin Clark 'grift' throws more WNBA fans off: "She's the first of her kind"

Sheryl Swoopes has stirred controversy again with remarks about Caitlin Clark, claiming that she isn't "dominant" based on her rookie season averages. Fans have noticed Swoopes' repeated criticism of the Indiana Fever rookie, who's making WNBA history.

On the “Gil’s Arena,” podcast, the hosts discussed whether Caitlin Clark's rookie season averages of 19.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg and 8.4 apg per game were "dominant," given that she had notched up 31.6 ppg, 8.9 apg and 7.4 rpg in her final collegiate season.

“Those are hell of a number, but to me, that's not dominating,” Swoopes said.

One fan suggested that Swoopes might be engaging in a "sports media grift," tactics more generally seen in men’s sports saying:

“(It took) me a while, but I just now realized Sheryl Swoopes is just running a sports media grift. This is all the pure grifting hate stuff we see in men’s sports, and she’s the first of her kind in the women’s game. Kudos for jumping at the $$ early.”

“Hating this hard is not healthy,” another fan said.

“Ain’t nobody a bigger hater than her,” another added.

One fan pointed out that no other WNBA player has matched Clark’s rookie stats.

“She is the only player in WNBA history to average those numbers or better. I think that's dominating.”

“Swoopes best year, her MVP year, didn’t put up these numbers,” another added.

In her three MVP seasons, Swoopes posted 20.7 ppg, 6.3 rpg and 3.8 apg (2000); 18.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg and 3.3 apg (2002); and 18.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg and 4.3 apg (2005).

Given those stats, one fan noted that Swoopes might be undermining her own legacy:

“So she doesn’t believe she dominated the league those years? She out here giving herself strays.”

Another added:

“This is levels of hater I can’t help but admire she’s really dying on the hill 😭”

---

Some of the records Caitlin Clark has set in her rookie year

Caitlin Clark has had a historic rookie season, leading the Indiana Fever to their first playoff appearance since 2016.

She set WNBA rookie records for scoring and assists, including the most assists in a season by any player. Clark also set a single-game record for assists, with 19.

She holds the rookie record for 3-pointers, recorded the first triple-double by a WNBA rookie, the first triple-double in Fever history and became the first rookie to post two triple-doubles.

Caitlin Clark is the ninth rookie to be named a WNBA All-Star starter and the only player to surpass 700,000 votes for the All-Star Game. While she has set many records, she also holds the WNBA single-season turnover mark as well.