Washington Post sports columnist Candace Buckner recently weighed in on the Caitlin Clark vs. WNBA debate.
Buckner, who has a history of covering sports in Indianapolis, shared her perspective on Clark and the notion that other WNBA players target her out of jealousy.
In her opening paragraph, the veteran columnist referred to Clark as a “white knight” for the league, stating:
“We should all protect Caitlin Clark. She is the white knight galloping in to save the Dark Continent known as the WNBA, the singular star uplifting an entire women’s sports movement that only now matters because men are watching. She is the No. 1 draft pick learning the rigors of a professional league, but doing so with the same lean and slightly sinewy 152-pound frame from her college days. Every time she’s double-teamed and trapped by grown women who refuse to view her as anything other than a scoring threat, the physical contact takes on a greater meaning.”
Buckner seems to believe that the contentious debate surrounding Clark is fueled by various parties, especially fans of Indiana Fever guard and other bad faith actors.
“Clark’s fans are engaging in these bigoted narratives, but so are the alarmists who have nothing better to do than ruin women’s basketball. It would be naive to think that Clark hasn’t noticed this messiness swirling on social media and in major news outlets. She’s a pro; she has agency and power. She is not a minor, but rather an adult woman. And if this narrative that pits her against her Black peers makes her uncomfortable, then she needs to speak up and say so.”
To her credit, Clark has mostly stayed above the fray, although she has admitted that she isn’t thrilled with how physical her opponents have been with her.
The Indiana Fever’s next game will be on Friday night against the Washington Mystics.
