The WNBA has been experiencing low viewership since the exit of Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever from the playoffs. After noticing a substantial fall in the WNBA’s postseason viewership, ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith once again took a shot at WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes.
In a segment of his ‘The Stephen A. Smith Show’, the NBA analyst highlighted how the overall viewership had fallen by nearly 50% in the absence of Clark. Smith took the opportunity to call out Swoops.
Calling Clark the “golden goose” of the WNBA, Smith said that people like Sheryl Swoops spend a lot of time putting Caitlin Clark down unfairly. He added that her race also plays a part in the criticism that the Fever star faces.
Stephen A. Smith calls out Sheryl Swoopes and others for resenting Caitlin Clark despite elevating WNBA [Credit: Getty]
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“Caitlin Clark is the golden goose,” Smith said. “Not most, not all but some people spend some time resenting her for it. Sheryl Swoopes is one of those people. Wanna give shine, you wanna give love to others, other than her, just say what you truly feel.
“They are very very few people but there are some out there who resent the fact that this young white girl came out there and did her thing … validating all the attention she was receiving. A rising tide lifts all boats. If folks were more receptive to it, even more moments would have arrived,” Smith added.
The WNBA rating and the overall viewership definitely took a big hit since the Indiana Fever was eliminated from the playoffs in the first round. According to ESPN, via Daily Mail, in Game 2 of the first round between Fever and the Connecticut Sun, the viewership reached up to 2.54 million.
However, once Caitlin Clark was eliminated, the numbers took a big hit. The viewership for the semifinal Game 1 between the Las Vegas Aces and the New York Liberty reached only 929,000. On the other hand, the semifinal Game 1 between the Minnesota Lynx and the Sun had a viewership of just 650,000.
Stephen A. Smith hits back at Sheryl Swoops for her “coward” remark amidst Caitlin Clark beef
Not sure what he thought he was doing? He still in his feelings about MM putting him in his place. I'm ready to go on his show!! Coward
— Sheryl Swoopes (@airswoopes22) August 24, 2024
The war of words between Stephen A. Smith and Sheryl Swoops started earlier this year in August. While speaking about the growth of the Indiana Fever on the podcast, ‘Queens Of The Court’, Swoops left Caitlin Clark out from her list.
Smith was flabbergasted by Swoops not including the Fever superstar rookie in her list and said that she was “insane” to do so. Later, Swoops hit back at Smith, saying that if he can say and do anything on his show, she could too.
She added to the retaliation by calling Smith a “coward” in her X post.
“Not sure what he thought he was doing? He still in his feelings about MM putting him in his place. I’m ready to go on his show!! Coward.”
Unhappy with how Swoops was loosely using her words, Smith called the WNBA legend’s actions immature.
“Sheryl Swoopes engages in levels of immaturity, there’s no way to slice it,” Smith said. … “All I’m going to say is, it was pretty damn immature to come back at me like that,” Smith said in reply to Swoops.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1830741137813868793
There is no saying if Swoops would come at Smith after his latest remark on her regarding the viewership falling in the absence of Caitlin Clark. However, given how Swoops has hit back in the past, Smith would sure expect a response from her.
