NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley slammed WNBA players for being “mean” toward rookie star Kaitlyn Clark.
“Bill Simmons' PodcastFormer players said the WNBA, and especially its players, have handled Clark's rise to fame in the worst way possible.
“These women, I'm a WNBA fan, but they couldn't have tried to ruin the Caitlin Clark case any more,” Barkley said. clip Available via podcast.
“If a bunch of guys got in a room and said, 'Let's destroy the WNBA,' we wouldn't have come up with a grand plan. [better than] “What have these women done?” Barkley adds hilariously.
Barkley went on to comment on Clarke's widespread popularity and ability to bring ratings to a struggling league.
“This kid is amazing. [amount] The attention she brought to college and the pros, the spotlight … and these women have this petty jealousy … you say to yourself, 'Damn, what's going on here?'”
“There's so much negativity and a lot of it is just petty jealousy.”
Clarke made headlines in June 2024 when data showed that the league's average viewership was three times higher when she played and the average attendance at the arenas where she played was double.
Still, the league missed an opportunity and is likely to lose more than $50 million this season, Blaze News previously reported.
“What I like is [Clark]”She never said a word,” Barkley continued, “but as much as I love and respect the way they play, they couldn't have done it any worse.”
Barkley's comments came after Clark recorded her second triple-double of the season with 24 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Clark is the first WNBA rookie to achieve a triple-double and just the sixth WNBA player to do so multiple times. Clark also recently became the first rookie to make 100 three-pointers in a season, becoming just the sixth player to accomplish the feat. CNN.
“There's been a ton of negativity, and a lot of it is just petty jealousy,” Barkley later said, referring to Clark being left out of Team USA's Olympic squad.
“What was really good for her was not making the Olympic team. It gave her a break and a chance to recharge her batteries.”
Barkley has previously accused WNBA players of being “mean” to Clark, and in May 2024, he insulted the league's female players for not appreciating Clarke after she gave him a private jet.
“All the women out there are so mean! … You all should be thanking that woman. She's brought money and fame to the WNBA because she arranged private charters for all of you.”
The WNBA playoffs began in late September, and Clark's Indiana Fever qualified for the playoffs.
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