WNBA Legend Candace Parker Didn't Hold Back When Asked About Caitlin Clark Drama

Caitlin Clark's arrival in the WNBA as the Indiana Fever's No. 1 overall pick came with unprecedented attention and fanfare.

But if anyone knows even a fraction of what Clark is going through, it's recently-retired WNBA icon Candace Parker.

Parker entered the league as the No. 1 overall pick for the Los Angeles Sparks in 2008. Her game immediately translated to the next level, winning both Rookie of the Year and league MVP in her debut season.

During a recent exclusive interview with AndScape , Parker was asked about Clark's entrance into the league and how it compares to her rookie season in 2008.

Clark was met with some seriously-physical play in her first few WNBA games — sparking discourse and controversy around the sporting world. Some felt the WNBA veterans were "jealous" of all the attention coming Clark's way as a rookie sensation.

Parker addressed this drama head on.

For me, I think that at this part, in this part of the game, it’s physicality. That’s what it is. When we start talking about hate and sports, I think that that’s the basis of competition. We’re not trying to be dirty. But I think there’s a level of, ‘I want what you have. I don’t want you to win.’ And so, I think that when we approached it that way, that’s when we were able to laugh about it.

The drama surrounding Clark has steadily died down as her rookie season wears on. As she continues to shatter WNBA records, it's fair to say she's earned the respect of the league's veteran players.

Clark and the 2024 WNBA All-Star Team will face off against Team USA on Saturday night.

Related: Jonquel Jones Made Her Thoughts on Playing Alongside Caitlin Clark Extremely Clear