WNBA fans were taken aback when they noticed Caitlin Clark’s absence from the list of participants for Friday night’s Three-Point Contest.
The league had extended an offer to the Indiana Fever’s No. 1 overall pick, but Clark chose to decline the opportunity.
Despite the disappointment, most fans understood her decision. Following her intense run to the National Championship game with Iowa earlier this year, Clark has not had a substantial break from basketball since 2023.
However, during Thursday’s episode of “Around the Horn” on ESPN, analyst David Dennis Jr. voiced his criticism of Clark’s choice to skip the Three-Point Contest.
“I didn’t like not seeing Aaron Judge and Ohtani in the Home Run Derby; I don’t like seeing the LeBron’s and the Zion’s not in the dunk contest,” Dennis said, via AwfulAnnouncing. “But especially right now, for Caitlin Clark, this is a missed opportunity — as much for Caitlin Clark as it is for all those people who spent all that time talking about, ‘How could Team USA not have her on the team?’ Because ‘How do you grow the game without Caitlin Clark?’ This is another opportunity. What are they going to say now? Because Caitlin Clark has opted out of an opportunity that will grow the game.”
He continued, “We saw when [Sabrina] Ionescu broke the record for the three-point competition. She grew the game and it became a mainstream moment. So Caitlin Clark is opting out of that. Don’t tell me she’s tired. Because you wanted her on Team USA. Don’t tell me she doesn’t want attention. Because if she was on Team USA, she’d be getting a lot of attention. There’s really no excuse for her not to go out there and shoot a few threes for the betterment of the game that everybody says is so desperate for her to make grow.”
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Dennis faced immediate backlash for his comments on social media.
“You’re comparing a skills competition to Team USA basketball. It’s not the same. And you know it. Caitlin Clark is bringing more eyeballs to #WNBA games. And will do the same for #ASG festivities. Stop the nonsense,” one fan wrote.
“She’s been playing basketball non-stop since at least October. Let the woman take a night off. She’s carrying the sport on her back. Christ almighty. Such a clown take,” another fan commented.
“Caitlin as an individual has done ENOUGH. Not allowing Caitlin the option to play on the Olympic team I think was dumb for all the growing the game reasons just like not allowing her to do the 3pt contest would have been dumb. If SHE says she tired she’ll do it next year I’m good,” another added.
“Being angry at Caitlin for turning down the 3-point contest is the dumbest take. The WNBA has been on a campaign to undermine her accomplishments. She owes you nothing. It’s optional for a reason, and there’s nothing in it for her. No money, no challenge without Ionescu or Plum,” another wrote.
Dennis responded to his critics with a message on social media, stating, “Ironically I’ve never said a negative word about CC. I’ve said a lot of negative words about Y’ALL and the way yall talk about her and other players in the WNBA. But not her,” he wrote on X.
As the WNBA All-Star weekend continues, Clark and the 2024 WNBA All-Star Team are set to face off against Team USA in a highly anticipated matchup on Saturday night. Fans will be watching closely, eager to see Clark’s performance in the game and understanding her decision to prioritize her well-being over additional competition.
