Sue Bird dismisses the Caitlin Clark hate narrative

In just her first WNBA season, Caitlin Clark has already become arguably the most recognized player the league has ever seen. With such a spotlight comes both positives and negatives, including the narrative that WNBA players have animosity toward Clark. However, Seattle Storm legend Sue Bird offers a different perspective on this sentiment.

In just her first WNBA season, Caitlin Clark has already become arguably the most recognized player the league has ever seen. With such a spotlight comes both positives and negatives, including the narrative that WNBA players have animosity toward Clark. However, Seattle Storm legend Sue Bird offers a different perspective on this sentiment.

Bird addressed the narrative about veterans supposedly targeting Caitlin Clark and expressed her perspective on the matter. The four-time WNBA champion pointed out that social media trolls often amplify comments made by other legends like Diana Taurasi, contributing to the controversy surrounding Clark.
“Obviously, I’m assuming Diana (Taurasi) saying that ‘rookies are going to need to adjust.’ Somehow, that got twisted and turned around and now has taken on a life of its own. And there’s this narrative that WNBA players are hating on Caitlin or don’t like her. That’s not the case. So I think things have gotten really twisted up,” Bird said in her recent appearance in FanDuel TV.

Bird played with the Storm from 2002 to 2022, leading the team to four WNBA titles and earning 14 All-Star selections during her illustrious career.

The Caitlin Clark hate narrative

The narrative of hate stems from incidents where some players have treated Clark poorly. A notable example occurred when Chennedy Carter elbow-checked Clark to the floor in a non-basketball play during the Indiana Fever’s first encounter with the Chicago Sky this season.

Another instance when Phoenix Mercury star Diana Taurasi commented that Caitlin Clark would need time to adjust to the WNBA, stating, “Reality is coming.” Taurasi faced significant backlash for these remarks, with fans labeling her as a “hater.”

Taurasi caused a stir before the Indiana Fever vs. Phoenix Mercury game last week, showing little interest in providing a detailed answer about her first matchup with Caitlin Clark. However, after the game, Taurasi’s tone changed as she gave the rookie her flowers.

Clark leads all rookies in scoring (16.2 ppg) and assists (6.9 apg). The collegiate standout from Iowa and the No. 1 overall pick by the Indiana Fever in April, has made an immediate impact in her WNBA debut. The guard’s logo 3-pointers and sophisticated playmaking have attracted a wave of new fans, packing arenas across the US to record attendance numbers.