Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Dez Bryant (Photos via Getty Images)
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve seen the constant discourse surrounding Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark. Now, Dez Bryant has something to say about it.

Indiana Fever star rookie Caitlin Clark has been the primary source of discourse, especially after she wasn’t chosen to take her talents to Paris for the 2024 Olympics next month.

Clark has also been the center of controversy regarding how other players treat her, most notably when she took a hard foul from Chennedy Carter of the Chicago Sky. Angel Reese, who was on the bench at the time, caught backlash for standing up and clapping after it happened.

The conversation quickly led to debates about race and sexuality in the WNBA.

When asked Thursday how she felt about being “weaponized” in these types of conversations, Clark was candid about some who have used perceived slights against the WNBA superstar to push racist and misogynistic tropes.

“I think it’s disappointing,” Clark said. “Everybody in our world deserves the same amount of respect. The women in our league deserve the same amount of respect. People should not be using my name to push those agendas. It’s disappointing. It’s not acceptable. This league is the league I grew up admiring and wanting to be a part of.

“Some of the women in this league were some of my biggest idols and role models growing up, and helped me want to achieve this moment right here that I get to play in ever single night. Just treating every single woman in this league with the same amount of respect is just a basic human thing that everyone should do. Just be a kind person and treat them how you would want to be treated.”

Former NFL wide receiver Dez Bryant took to X, formerly Twitter, and revealed that he was happy that Caitlin Clark felt the way she did while stating he felt sorry for her and Angel Reese.

He also blamed all of the discourse on the media.

“I’m glad she feel this way,” Bryant wrote, in response to an image that describes Clark’s opposition to having her name used to push racism and misogyny. “I feel sorry for Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. Like I said before, I blame it on the media.”

“[Clark] didn’t ask for all the non sense,” Bryant continued. “Imagine being in this situation imagine, how hard it is to express your real self in this type of situation.”

Caitlin Clark Says She Doesn’t See People Using Her Name in Race Debates

Caitlin Clark (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images)
Indiana Fever star rookie Caitlin Clark pushed back against online commenters who have used her name in discussions.

However, she was also asked if it bothers her that people use her name to push their online agendas, and she made it clear that she doesn’t see it as she wants to focus on basketball.

“No,” she responded. “I don’t see it. That’s not where my focus is. Again, my focus is here and on basketball; and that’s where it needs to be. That’s where it has been, and I’m just trying to get better on a daily basis, per ESPN.”

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