Not even one full season into her WNBA career, Caitlin Clark is arguably the most widely recognized player the league has ever seen. With this type of spotlight comes many positives and many negatives, including the narrative that WNBA players hate Clark.

This narrative comes from the way some players have treated Clark. A prime example would be when Chennedy Carter elbowed Clark to the floor in a non-basketball play during the Indiana Fever’s first meeting with the Chicago Sky this season.

Another example would be when Phoenix Mercury star Diana Taurasi said that it would take time for Clark to adjust to the WNBA. Taurasi faced extreme backlash for those comments, with fans calling her a “hater.”

Seattle Storm legend Sue Bird has a different opinion on WNBA players hating on Clark. Bird spoke with FanDuel TV to give her take on the matter, saying this narrative is false.


Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) talks to Seattle Storm guard Victoria Vivians (35) following being run into after making a three-pointer, Thursday, May 30, 2024, during the WNBA game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Joe Timmerman/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK© Provided by Athlon Sports

“Obviously, I’m assuming Diana (Taurasi) saying that ‘rookies are going to need to adjust.’ Somehow, that got twisted and turned around and now has taken on a life of its own. And there’s this narrative that WNBA players are hating on Caitlin or don’t like her. That’s not the case. So I think things have gotten really twisted up,” Bird said.

Bird played with the Storm from 2002 to 2022. She helped bring the team four WNBA titles while being named to the All-Star team 14 times. Clark, the former Iowa Hawkeyes star, was named to her first WNBA All-Star team this past week. She was just one of two rookies to make the roster this season, joining Sky forward Angel Reese.