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Former NFL No. 1 pick Keyshawn Johnson has blamed Caitlin Clark for the "animosity" she attracts in the WNBA. While discussing the aftermath of Tuesday's tense game between the Fever and the Sun, Johnson and Paul Pierce debated why Clark gets fouled so often.
Pierce said Clark didn't warrant such treatment and that she has been facing it since 2024 because of "animosity" towards her as the face of the WNBA despite being a then-rookie. Johnson shot down that notion, claiming Clark was responsible for what she's faced on the court.
"She's got some arrogance to her and swag to her," Johnson said on Thursday's episode of Fox Sports show "Speak".
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"Look, last year they beat her up a little bit ... I don't necessarily know if it was just the face of the league or they were doing it from an intimidation standpoint 'cause they knew eventually she would be good and they wanted to just send the message.
"It's just carrying over this year, that's all it is. Look, that's the way they play. They're more physical than they were in the past, so that's what it is ... That animosity, though, some of that is her own doing."
While Caitlin Clark has faced some hard fouls, many people, including Keyshawn Johnson, believe she invites trouble because of her "attitude" and trash-talking. However, Paul Pierce and others in Clark's corner believe her actions are within limits.
Stephen A. Smith thinks Caitlin Clark instigates resentment
Keyshawn Johnson's ex-ESPN colleague, Stephen A. Smith, also thinks Caitlin Clark is responsible for the "resentment" she gets in the WNBA. Smith cited the incident between Clark and Angel Reese during the 2023 national championship game when the former LSU star waved at her Iowa counterpart, mimicking her "you can't see me gesture."
"There's also resentment towards her because she instigates resentment towards her sometimes," Smith said on Wednesday's "First Take" episode.
"The whole Angel Reese thing with her started because when Caitlin was giving it to everybody else, she was the one waving in their face."
Many were critical of Clark at the time, but it was later established that she had made the gesture towards one of her Iowa coaches, not her opponents.
