Fans and media have panned Sheryl Swoopes' ongoing criticism of Caitlin Clark. The Houston Comets icon has spent weeks talking negatively about the rookie sensation. She has even entered heated debates with Stephen A. Smith and Nancy Lieberman concerning her remarks about the WNBA's latest No. 1 draft pick.
Dan Dakich of Outkick joined the list of Swoopes attackers on Thursday, saying the four-time WNBA champion has 'equity' in hating on Clark.
"Sheryl Swoopes has equity in hating on Caitlin Clark. She's been there, done that, keeps doing it, and it's not only about basketball, it's about her relationships with other players or perceived relationships with other players."
Dakich claimed that Swoopes returned to prominence after she began insulting Clark.
"Nobody was talking about her before this WNBA season, but she's jumped back into the spotlight after 15 years by saying dumb things about the most popular women's basketball player on the planet."
In this week's episode of Gil's Arena, Swoopes said that Clark's rookie season wasn't dominant at all. She then suggested that Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell don't like the attention they get from playing alongside Clark. Swoopes then stated Boston and Mitchell should leave Indiana and Caitlin Clark for other teams.
2x NBA champion says Caitlin Clark has the 'IT' factor
NBA legend Isiah Thomas is among the loudest Caitlin Clark supporters. The two-time champion has praised the 22-year-old's evolution from volume shooter in college to well-rounded WNBA floor general.
Thomas recently talked about this transition on Dakich's show.
"She's got it. She's got what they call the 'IT' factor. Some people got it and some people don't. She also has game. She got real game. When she came out of college, everybody was talking about, 'Oh, she is going to be a great scorer, and she is going to shoot the basketball and going to shoot the lights out. But then she unveiled, oh I can drop dimes, too. Oh, I can pass, too.'"
Clark took the Indiana Fever from a 1-9 start to a 20-19 record and playoff berth. Behind their superstar rookie, The Fever might become a major dark horse this postseason.