On “The Stephen A. Smith Show” on Sirius XM, Smith ripped the WNBA for its inability to protect Caitlin Clark and for the league’s failure to ride the wave that Clark has created.
“Folks can’t stop talking about Caitlin Clark. You don’t know to ride that wave? You don’t know to be mindful and cognizant of that reality and go forward from there? You don’t know that? Don’t you want to make money? What you don’t do is have such a disdain and a disregard for her that her coach is complaining about intentional harm being aimed in her direction because of the resentment that she fuels.
“Rising tide lifts all boats. You think Magic Johnson and Larry Bird wanted to concede the reins to Michael Jordan? I’m not comparing Caitlin Clark to Jordan in terms of her ability, even though she’s pretty damn good. I’m comparing her to him as it pertains to her box office appeal for her respective sport. She’s that girl. You ride that wave,” Smith said.
Smith, a longtime host and reporter with ESPN as well, made his remarks in response to Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas’ fist to Clark’s throat in the Fever’s Wednesday contest against the Mercury. Clark would later leave the game and not return with a back injury.
After a postgame WNBA review of the incident, Thomas received a Flagrant Foul 2 and a one-game suspension.
“You want to beat Caitlin Clark? Beat her playing basketball. Don’t beat her with roughhouse tactics, compromising her ability to play, because if she ain’t playing, it’s gonna affect ratings. And if it’s affecting ratings, it’s gonna affect revenue. And if it’s gonna affect revenue, then you’re not going to build the sport the way you hope to build the sport. That’s the reality. Let’s all grow up and accept it for what it is,” Smith said.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Stephen A. Smith rips WNBA’s inability to ride Caitlin Clark wave
Reporting by Scout Springgate, Hawkeyes Wire / Hawkeyes Wire
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By Scout Springgate, Hawkeyes Wire | USA TODAY Network
