WNBA legend believes Caitlin Clark didn't dominate despite winning Rookie of the Year

Clark takes the award

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark brought home 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year honors after her landmark first season in the league.

Harsh critic

Despite this accomplishment, three-time WNBA MVP Sheryl Swoopes has claimed rookie sensation Caitlin Clark hasn’t been “dominating,” the WNBA in her first year.

Good, not great

Swoopes was speaking on Gilbert Arenas’ podcast Gil’s Arena, suggested that while Clark had been performing well, she was so far not an elite player, saying, “Those are hell of numbers but, to me, that’s not dominating.”

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Seeing some improvement

Swoopes did note, “I still don't think she's dominating, but she's a different player than she was in the first half of the season,” suggesting her stance on Clark could be softening.

Not a fan

Swoopes has been outspoken against Clark in the past, suggesting she and fellow rookie phenom Angel Reese would struggle to translate their college success into the WNBA.

“It’s not going to happen”

Swoopes was firm in her claim that Clark wouldn’t be an immediate success in the WNBA, saying, “Will Caitlin Clark be a good pro? Absolutely. Will Caitlin Clark come into the WNBA and do what she is doing right now immediately? Absolutely not. It’s not going to happen.”

Instant impact

Clark has certainly made an impact in her first season in the WNBA, leading her Indiana Fever team to the playoffs for the first time since 2016, and being named to the All-Star Game.

Fans clapping back

WNBA and Caitlin Clark fans have clapped back against Swoopes’ critiques, with one writing, “Swoopes should not be given air time, her value is zero and it just keeps emboldening her with a pay check,” per The Mirror.

“Needs to shut up”

Another fan wrote, “At this point, she [Swoopes] needs to shut up. She's already proven that she's not a fan.”

Stephen A. Smith weighing in

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith also piled in against Swoopes, saying, “Do you have any idea how that serves to stain any kind of critique of Caitlin Clark? Because it gives fodder to those who believe she's being hated and ostracized to some degree.”

Dominate the playoffs?

Clark and the Fever fell in the first round of the playoffs at the hands of the Connecticut Sun.

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