Shannon Sharpe delivered a fiery critique on ESPN’s First Take regarding how some of his colleagues have downplayed the significance of Caitlin Clark’s impact in her rookie WNBA season. Sharpe, known for his bold takes, expressed frustration over what he described as an attempt to “minimize” Clark’s contributions to the league, suggesting that certain commentators were trying to keep her “in her place.”
During his regular Monday appearance on First Take, Sharpe sat down with co-host Stephen A. Smith and ESPN women’s basketball analyst Andraya Carter to discuss the topic. Sharpe didn’t hold back when addressing the panel, pointing out how some at ESPN had diminished the attention Clark was receiving.
“A lot of this noise came from people sitting on this very network,” Sharpe said emphatically. “They tried to minimize her by saying, ‘Well, you’re giving her all this credit, but what about the women who came before her?’ What the women before her did is undeniable and can’t be taken away. That’s not the point. It has nothing to do with Caitlin Clark. But there are a lot of people trying to make sure she stays in her place because they feel like giving her all this shine somehow diminishes what the legends did.”
Sharpe made it clear that the respect owed to WNBA legends like Maya Moore, Candace Parker, Lisa Leslie, Lauren Jackson, and Diana Taurasi shouldn’t be questioned. However, he argued that recognizing Clark’s impact doesn’t diminish the accomplishments of those who came before her.
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While Sharpe didn’t specifically name names, it was evident he was referring to several ESPN commentators. Earlier in the season, Andraya Carter had voiced some reservations about the heightened attention Clark was receiving, particularly during matchups between Clark and her rival, Angel Reese. When both the Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky, teams featuring Clark and Reese respectively, were struggling early in the season, Carter noted that their games still received outsized attention. She commented, “I enjoy watching these two try to find success in the W. But if we’re being completely honest, their teams are having a mid-off right now. They’re just very mid. They’re eighth and ninth in the WNBA standings.”
Sharpe pushed back against this line of thinking during his First Take rant, arguing that Clark’s success and her ability to draw massive attention to the WNBA should be celebrated, not diminished.
“Caitlin Clark, what she’s doing, doesn’t minimize what the legends have done,” Sharpe continued. “But we should’ve been giving her credit. Look at the ratings, look at the merchandise sales, look at the attendance. But some of y’all want to make it about something else. Caitlin Clark is box office. She’s bringing it. And instead of giving her credit, some people are trying to turn it into, ‘Oh, you’re poo-pooing the old guard. You never talked about them like this.’ Nah, I’m not letting that slide.”
Indeed, the numbers back up Sharpe’s argument. Games featuring Clark and the Indiana Fever this season have consistently drawn significantly larger crowds than other WNBA matchups. Attendance for Clark’s games has nearly doubled that of other contests, and television viewership has nearly tripled when the Fever are featured. Clark’s star power has undoubtedly brought more eyes to the WNBA, contributing to a surge in interest, merchandise sales, and general excitement surrounding the league.
Sharpe’s passionate defense of Clark highlights the tension that can sometimes arise when a new star emerges in a sport with a long history of legendary figures. Clark’s instant impact has drawn attention not only for her individual talent but for the attention she has brought to women’s basketball as a whole. For Sharpe, that impact should be acknowledged without being diminished by comparisons to past players.
As the WNBA playoffs continue, Clark and the Fever are down 1-0 in their best-of-three series against the Connecticut Sun. Game 2 is set to take place on Wednesday night at Mohegan Sun Arena, with fans eagerly watching to see if Clark can lead her team to a comeback and continue her remarkable rookie season.
Regardless of the outcome, Clark’s influence on the league is undeniable, and Sharpe’s spirited defense of her contributions will likely continue to resonate with fans and commentators alike.