NBA legend Charles Barkley said some women are “petty” in their hate for new WNBA player Caitlin Clark.
Clark is filling stadiums for Indiana Fever games in her first season for the league. However, her popularity has drawn criticism from some, including The View’s Sunny Hostin, who accused Clark of having “pretty privilege” and “white privilege.”
“Now, Caitlin Clark is bringing this money, these sponsorships, we hope, into the league, and other players will benefit from it. But I do think that she is more relatable to more people because she’s white, because she’s attractive, and unfortunately, there still is that stigma against the LGBTQ+ community,” Hostin said on Wednesday’s show. “Seventy percent of the WNBA is black. A third of the players are in the LGBTQ+ community, and we have to do something about that stigma in this country.”
Barkley shared his thoughts on the matter while commentating on TNT Sports. He thanked Clark “for bringing all that money and shine to WNBA” while condemning her haters.
“Y’all petty, girls. I expect men to be petty because we’re the most insecure group in the world. Y’all should be thanking that girl for getting y’all ass private charters, all that money and visibility she’s bringing to the WNBA. Don’t be petty like dudes,” Barkley said. “Listen, once she’s being accomplished, give her her flowers. Stop being petty, all you women out there. She got y’all ass charters. She bringing all y’all this money to the table, but y’all being petty like dudes.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
All 6,251 seats were filled to watch Clark tie for highest scorer with Dallas Wings player and fellow rookie Jaelyn Brown during her debut game earlier this month. The Fever have yet to win a game this preseason.
The University of Iowa also benefited from Clark’s stardom, with more fans in attendance to watch her play while a student-athlete there. There was a 46% increase in ticket sales during Clark’s senior year from the year before. Lady Hawkeyes came in second for the women’s basketball championship this past season.