WNBA legend shrugs off Caitlin Clark 'domination' claims despite record rookie year

WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes has been criticized by basketball fans after she claimed that Caitlin Clark's rookie year with the Indiana Fever did not amount to "domination".

The youngster has continued to set new standards following her tradition from her collegiate days into the processional came since her move to Indianapolis . In the time since she was selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, she has averaged 19.5 points, 8.4 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game this campaign.

The former Iowa superstar is the frontrunner to be named Rookie of the Year after her record-breaking displays - which saw her set new standards including for the most assists in a league season. However, the three-time WNBA MVP Swoopes was seemingly unsure that the youngster's numbers represented the player being a standout star.

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Speaking on Gil's Arena podcast , Swoopes confessed: "Those are hell of a numbers, but to me that's not dominating. What I said was: I didn't think Caitlin, or Angel [Reese] , would come into the league and dominate immediately. Which I don't think either of them did. I still don't think she's dominating, but she's a different player than she was in the first half of the season."

Her controversial remarks appeared to irk many women's basketball enthusiasts after they emerged, with one fan saying: "Swoopes should not be given air time, her value is zero and it just keeps emboldening her with a pay check,' while another said: "At this point, she needs to shut up. She's already proven that she's not a fan."

Meanwhile, a third did not hold back what they thought of the retired star, saying: "Give it up Swoopes. [...] is your problem? You are looking more stupid every day, as a disgruntled fourth fan also added: "Respectfully, Sheryl Swoopes, do you have any idea how that makes you look?"

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Meanwhile, Stephen A. Smith was among those was baffled by Swoopes' remarks, as he said on his show: "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.

"Do you realize, Sheryl Swoopes, you're insane to do that? Let me tell you why you're insane to do that," he continued, with his feelings towards the basketball great clear. "Because, Sheryl Swoopes, you're one of the greatest players ever in the history of basketball, that's why."

He added: "You know basketball better than me; you know basketball [better] than any of the pundits. You know basketball better than most of the men that play basketball. There is no way in hell you just accidentally left Caitlin Clark's name out of that soliloquy that you dropped about the Indiana Fever - stop it."