WNBA ‘competitive talk’ was misinterpreted as Caitlin Clark ‘hate’: Sue Bird (PO)

Sue Bird knows that there’s a fine line, but in most cases, the former WNBA star believes that the alleged hate toward Fever rookie Caitlin Clark actually resembles competitive fuel that’s misinterpreted.

“Caitlin will go down as, whatever you want to call it, the one who made the change, this pivotal person,” Bird, the former Storm star who retired in 2022 after a 20-year career in the league, said during an appearance on the “Good Game with Sarah Spain” podcast. “She will, 100 percent. But in other leagues … it was never like when LeBron (James) came, ‘Oh, Michael Jordan didn’t matter.’ And for some reason that happened, and it caused this whole thing.

“When the reality was, no player felt that way toward Caitlin, everybody was very welcoming and inviting, and they mistook competitive talk for hate, with hating on somebody.”

Sue Bird appeared on the "Good Game with Sarah Spain" podcast.
Sue Bird appeared on the “Good Game with Sarah Spain” podcast.Others around the WNBA have criticized the notion of alleged hate toward Clark, too — including Liberty star Jonquel Jones and Aces head coach Becky Hammon.

But it’s a storyline that has followed the former Iowa star since she became the No. 1 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft and the spotlight — and ratings — that followed her collegiate career shifted to Indiana.

“NBA on TNT” analyst Charles Barkley called out “petty” WNBA players their alleged hatred toward Clark, while Sky rookie Angel Reese wrote in a post on X following an early-season win that the expanding visibility of the league is “not just cause of one player.”

Caitlin Clark will play for Team WNBA in the All-Star Game on Saturday.
Caitlin Clark will play for Team WNBA in the All-Star Game on Saturday.USA TODAY NETWORK
Since Chicago teammate Chennedy Carter knocked Clark to the ground and Reese appeared to celebrate in the background, though, everything has seemingly settled into place.

There hasn’t been an obvious foul, a cryptic post on X — anything that would suggest Barkley’s claim, with the hatred that Bird was referring to, existed.

Caitlin Clark has averaged 17.1 points and 8.2 assists per game this season.
Caitlin Clark has averaged 17.1 points and 8.2 assists per game this season.AP
Reese and Clark will even be teammates during Saturday’s night All-Star Game between Team USA and Team WNBA, with the Fever — behind Clark’s 17.1 points, 8.2 assists and 5.8 rebounds per game — surging back into playoff contention with eight wins across their past 13 games and Reese cementing her place as a Rookie of the Year candidate.

“I think the majority of WNBA players with their play, with their talk, it was just competition, not hate for a person,” Bird said.

Relative Articles

None found

Related Posts

Shocking Scandal Exposed: Offset Allegedly L3@ks Explosive Videos Accusing Cardi B of Ch3@ting While Pregnant /dn

Shocking Scandal Exposed: Offset Allegedly Leaks Explosive Videos Accusing Cardi B of Cheating While Pregnant In a jaw-dropping twist that has left fans and the entertainment world reeling,…

Explosive Truth Revealed: Cardi B’s Divorce from Offset Was Part of a Shocking Master Plan /dn

Explosive Truth Revealed: Cardi B’s Divorce from Offset Was Part of a Shocking Master Plan The world of hip-hop has been shaken to its core with the shocking…

Social Media Detectives Think They’ve Uncovered Compelling Evidence That Andy Reid & Chiefs Lost To The Bills On Purpose /d

ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 17: at Highmark Stadium on November 17, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images) *** Local…

Sean Paul Breaks Silence on Beyonce Affair Rumors | Jay-Z’s Warning Revealed (VIDEO) /dn

Sean Paul Breaks Silence on Beyonce Affair Rumors | Jay-Z’s Warning Revealed For years, the entertainment world has been abuzz with rumors of an alleged romantic link between…

Holiday plans for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have been revealed. This will be the second time the couple has celebrated Christmas together. (an)

Holiday plans for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have been set! According to Us Weekly, a source claims that Swift and Kelce will be combining their families once…

Caitlin Clark DIDN’T HOLD BACK In AMAZING Interview with Jason & Travis Kelce – THIS is HUGE! (an)

In a thrilling and candid interview that has fans buzzing, Caitlin Clark, the Iowa Hawkeyes’ basketball sensation, joined NFL superstars Jason and Travis Kelce for a conversation…