Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 17
Howard Bryant Says Caitlin Clark Hostility Is Not Racial as WNBA Is Roughly 70% Black or LGBTQ+
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 17

Howard Bryant Says Caitlin Clark Hostility Is Not Racial as WNBA Is Roughly 70% Black or LGBTQ+

2 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 17

Summary

  • Howard Bryant said on Bomani Jones' podcast that resentment toward Caitlin Clark comes from her on-court conduct, arguing players dislike her taunts, complaints to referees and reactions after big shots.
  • Bryant framed Clark's tongue-out celebrations, face-to-face swagger and constant foul appeals as behavior that invites backlash, rejecting the idea that race is the main driver of the hostility around her.
  • Sage Steele, in separate comments cited in the report, argued the WNBA is mishandling a generational star through poor officiating and repeated uncalled fouls that could alienate the league's growing fan base.
  • The report places Bryant's remarks inside a wider debate over Clark's popularity, race and league culture, noting criticism that some players and commentators tie her rise to identity politics rather than basketball.

Insights

Is the on-court hostility toward Caitlin Clark a rookie rite of passage or a reflection of deeper cultural tensions within the WNBA?
How can the WNBA protect its biggest economic asset without alienating the veteran players who built the league's foundation and culture?