Current:Home > FinanceCharles Barkley says WNBA players are being 'petty' over attention paid to Caitlin Clark -ValueMetric
Charles Barkley says WNBA players are being 'petty' over attention paid to Caitlin Clark
View
Date:2025-04-27 17:15:32
Basketball Hall of Famer Charles Barkley is defending Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark.
Ahead of Game 1 of the Western Conference finals between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night, Barkley called out the "petty" critics of Clark among the WNBA.
"You woman out there, y'all petty, man... Y'all should be thanking (Caitlin Clark) for getting y'all (expletive) private charters," Barkley said during TNT's "Inside the NBA" broadcast, highlighting "all the money and visibility she's bringing to the WNBA."
It's not clear who Barkley is referencing, but the broadcaster did mention comments from Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, who denounced the "animosity and hatred" directed toward Clark and his son Bronny James during an appearance on his "Mind the Game" podcast on Wednesday.
'ROOTING FOR CAITLIN CLARK':NBA superstar LeBron James voices support for Caitlin Clark
"Don't get it twisted, don't get it (expletive) up. Caitlin Clark is the reason a lot of great things are going to happen for the WNBA," James said. "There’s a very small number of men and women that actually get to live out their dream of playing the professional sport. And we have grown (expletive) men and women out here doing whatever they can to try to make sure that does not happen. That’s the weirdest thing in the world."
Later Wednesday, Barkley said James is "100% right on these girls hating on Caitlin Clark." He added, "What she's accomplished, give her her flowers... Caitlin Clark, thank you for bring all that money and shine to the WNBA."
Clark, the NCAA's all-time leading scorer, was drafted out of Iowa by the Indiana Fever with the No. 1 overall pick in April and the popularity surrounding Clark has trickled down to the entire WNBA. Clark's regular-season debut, for example, drew an average audience of 2.13 million viewers to become the most watched WNBA game in almost 23 years.
veryGood! (36)
Related
- Most popular books of the week: See what topped USA TODAY's bestselling books list
- 3-year-old Tennessee boy dies after being struck with a stray bullet on New Year's Eve
- SpaceX accused of unlawfully firing employees who were critical of Elon Musk
- Georgia House special election to replace Barry Fleming set for February
- Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow owns a $3 million Batmobile Tumbler
- Here come 'The Brothers Sun'
- Blinken heads to the Mideast again as fears of regional conflict surge
- Nevada GOP congressional candidate leaves tight US House race to defend her state Assembly seat
- NHL in ASL returns, delivering American Sign Language analysis for Deaf community at Winter Classic
- Achieve a Minimal Makeup Look That Will Keep You Looking Refreshed All Day, According to an Expert
Ranking
- Skins Game to make return to Thanksgiving week with a modern look
- Florida Surgeon General Dr. Ladapo wants to halt COVID mRNA vaccines, going against FDA
- PGA Tour starts a new year that feels like the old one. There’s more to golf than just the golf
- Survivors are found in homes smashed by Japan quake that killed 94 people. Dozens are still missing
- Person accused of accosting Rep. Nancy Mace at Capitol pleads not guilty to assault charge
- Voters file an objection to Trump’s name on the Illinois ballot
- Kentucky governor backs longer list of conditions eligible for treatment under medical marijuana law
- Unsealed documents show again how Jeffrey Epstein leveraged his powerful connections
Recommendation
'Stranger Things' prequel 'The First Shadow' is headed to Broadway
Families in Gaza search desperately for food and water, wait in long lines for aid
Pittsburgh family dog eats $4,000 in cash
Missing 16-year-old girl from Ohio located in Florida with help from video game
Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
Huge waves will keep battering California in January. Climate change is making them worse.
A judge in Oregon refuses to dismiss a 2015 climate lawsuit filed by youth
Former Harvard president Claudine Gay speaks out about her resignation in New York Times op-ed