Former ESPN Anchor Goes After Caitlin Clark Fans

Former ESPN anchor Cari Champion used podcasts with Jemele Hill and Bakari Sellers to attack Caitlin Clark’s fan base in sweeping racial terms.

Champion called Clark an “avatar for people who want to spread hate” and described her supporters as middle Americans “who want to see White women do well in a sport that’s traditionally Black.”

She also said Clark has not done enough to elevate Black players and that the WNBA is “coddling” Caitlin and her “MAGA” fans.

OutKick columnist Matt Calkins called the frame ridiculous. He noted Clark can be petulant with officials and is on pace to lead the league in turnovers again, but said racial storylines around her are a media invention.

White stars such as Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, and Kelsey Plum were No. 1 picks who won major college awards without selling out buildings the way Clark has.

Calkins argued Clark’s range, assist numbers, and NCAA scoring record explain the boom. LeBron James posted that anyone who doesn’t “rock with Caitlin Clark’s game” is “a FLAT OUT HATER.” Tyrese Haliburton is a regular at Fever games.

Brittney Griner said new fans yelled racial slurs, without naming Fever crowds with evidence. Angel Reese alleged racist comments; a WNBA review of staff, fans, audio, and video could not substantiate it.

Calkins wrote that concrete, real-time proof of Clark fans crossing from online noise into arena harassment is thin, while on-court and locker-room hostility toward Clark is easier to document.

He pointed to Griner appearing to say “trash, f***ing White girl” after a foul and to All-Star ballots where players ranked Clark far below fans and media. His close: Champion’s rhetoric looks less like evidence than projection.