Amid the ongoing controversy surrounding media coverage of WNBA rookie Caitlin Clark, TNT analyst Charles Barkley has delivered a sharp rebuke aimed at WNBA personalities for spreading negative narratives about the rising star. Known for his outspoken takes on the NBA, Barkley turned his attention to the coverage of the Indiana Fever rookie, and he didn’t hold back in calling out what he sees as unwarranted criticism.
Speaking on The Bill Simmons Podcast on Wednesday, Barkley expressed his frustration with how Clark has been treated by some members of the WNBA community. Though he’s not directly involved in WNBA coverage, Barkley made it clear that as an outsider, he’s deeply disappointed by the negativity surrounding Clark, who has brought an unprecedented level of attention to both college and professional women’s basketball.
“These ladies—and I’m a WNBA fan—they couldn’t have f—ed this Caitlin Clark thing up any worse if they tried,” Barkley said. “People believe what we say on television. Just because you don’t like someone’s personality, you can’t get on TV and slander them. It’s total bulls—.”
Barkley went on to praise Clark, emphasizing the impact she has had on the sport. “This girl is incredible. The number of eyeballs she’s brought to college and the pros is unmatched, and for these women to have this petty jealousy is just shocking. You’re left asking, ‘What’s going on here?’ And what I respect about her is that she doesn’t say a word. She just lets her game do the talking.”
While Barkley refrained from naming any specific individuals, it’s widely speculated that his comments were in reference to the simmering feud between WNBA legends Sheryl Swoopes and Nancy Lieberman. The two have recently clashed over comments related to Clark’s achievements.
Earlier this week, Lieberman shed light on her fractured relationship with Swoopes, which dates back to February when Swoopes made a factually incorrect statement about Clark’s collegiate career. Swoopes had claimed that Clark, who had just set the all-time Division I scoring record, benefited from an extra year of eligibility due to the pandemic. This, however, was inaccurate. Lieberman, who had a long-standing friendship with Swoopes, called her out privately, urging her to get the facts right.
“I called [Swoopes] as a friend and said, ‘You can have your own opinion, but you have to get the statistics right,’” Lieberman shared. “Our relationship pretty much ended at that point. My life is going to be good with or without Sheryl Swoopes.”
Swoopes, in response to the backlash, shared screenshots of a conversation she had with Clark, where she admitted her mistake and congratulated Clark on her accomplishments. While this acknowledgment seemed to clear up the issue between Clark and Swoopes, it didn’t stop the media frenzy or the public fallout between Swoopes and Lieberman.
Adding to the drama, basketball icons Diana Taurasi and UConn coach Geno Auriemma have also made critical remarks about Clark’s rookie season. Though they are not official members of the WNBA media, their high-profile status in the basketball world has fueled further negative discourse surrounding Clark.
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Despite the scrutiny, Clark has remained focused on her game. After a rough 0-5 start to the season, she has led the Indiana Fever to their first playoff berth since 2016, with seven games still left in the regular season. Her impressive on-court performance has silenced many of her detractors, though the off-court noise continues to swirl.
Barkley’s comments echo the sentiments of many fans who feel that the negativity toward Clark is misplaced and counterproductive. He urged the WNBA community to appreciate what Clark is bringing to the sport, rather than tearing her down. “These women, who I love and respect for their game, couldn’t have f—ed this up worse. There’s been so much negativity, and it’s unnecessary.”
As the WNBA season nears its conclusion, the focus will likely remain on Clark’s impressive rookie campaign and the Indiana Fever’s resurgence. However, Barkley’s fiery critique of the media’s handling of Clark is a reminder that even in the world of professional sports, jealousy and misinformation can cloud what should be a celebration of talent and achievement.
