WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes unleashed a wild rant targeting ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith after the latter criticized her recent commentary – or lack thereof – on the league’s biggest star, Caitlin Clark.
Swoopes had analyzed a mini two-game win streak by the Indiana Fever following the Olympic break and went out of her way to praise everybody on the team, sans Clark, for the performance.
Smith got wind of the commentary, calling it “insane.”
Swoopes replied in kind with a tirade that failed to address the fact that yes, her commentary was insane, and instead ripped Smith as a “coward.”
“You talk about whomever and whatever you want to on your podcast. Correct? So why can’t I?” Swoopes demanded to know in a post on X. “Also, did you listen to the ENTIRE episode? NOPE! I have a personal relationship with these players and they deserve recognition as well.”
“Not sure what he thought he was doing? He still in his feelings about MM (Monica McNutt) putting him in his place. I’m ready to go on his show!! Coward,” she fired off in a separate post.
Stephen A. Smith Calls Sheryl Swoopes Comments Insane
As with much of her analysis regarding Clark, Sheryl Swoopes seemed to be misunderstanding the bigger picture. Stephen A. Smith indicated her comments were “insane” because she was setting herself up for criticism from Caitlin’s fans.
Indiana’s short win streak (it was broken Saturday by Minnesota) showed the team was fresh coming out of the Olympic break. Despite Clark averaging 26 points and 9.5 assists in those two games, Swoopes couldn’t find it in herself to credit the Fever leader for … being a leader of the Fever.
In a clip from her recent podcast, Swoopes credits Lexie Hull, Aliyah Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell for the victories, failing to even mention Clark.
“I think the Olympic break really helped Indiana,” Swoopes said. “I’m going to shout out to Lexie Hull. I’m a big Lexie Hull fan. Lexie Hull shot the leather off the ball in their game against Seattle.”
“Kelsey Mitchell is just stroking; she is just shooting the basketball,” she continued. “Aliyah Boston, almost a triple-double. … If Indiana continues to play the way they’re playing, like this, they too are going to move up in the standings.”
RELATED: Pat McAfee Says He Was Told To Stop Talking About Caitlin Clark
They’re Both Insane
Smith, like anyone who heard the clip, thought the analysis was a bit goofy.
“So, no Caitlin Clark? Sheryl Swoopes, no Caitlin Clark?” Smith openly wondered. “Respectfully, Sheryl Swoopes, do you have any idea how that makes you look? Do you have any idea how that serves to stain any kind of critique of Caitlin Clark?”
“Because it gives fodder to those who believe she’s being hated and ostracized to some degree. Do you realize, Sheryl Swoopes, you’re insane to do that?”
Not sure about you guys, but that sounds like somebody warning Swoopes not to give ammo to Caitlin Clark fans. And that’s equally “insane” since that’s not the takeaway here. At all.
The takeaway here is that nobody is more responsible than Caitlin Clark for the Fever’s success, and a basketball analyst intentionally ignored her accomplishments during a winning streak.
Caitlin Clark had 23 points and 8 assists in Saturday’s loss to the top team in the Western Conference.
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