If you’re a fan of women’s basketball, you’ve heard about the ongoing narrative surrounding the WNBA and its veteran players’ resentment toward the league’s new generation of superstars, particularly Indiana Fever star guard Caitlin Clark.
Many members of the media have addressed this topic since Clark entered the league in 2024. And sports expert Stephen A. Smith delivered his own verdict at the event. an episode from June 4 of the PBD Podcast.
“It’s not really about (Clark), guys. It’s about what she represents,” Smith said. “Before she came along, there were a lot of great basketball players … doing their thing at the WNBA level. And they never had that kind of shine. This girl, the goose that lays the golden eggs, comes in and she wreaks havoc.”
Smith later added: “It’s not about hating her. It’s that you feel like she’s getting the level of attention that you deserve and warrant long before it happens. That’s understandable, but it happens…(resentment) happens (in basketball).
“So to me, there’s nothing wrong with the resentment that you may feel towards what (Clark) represents. It’s actually good because it creates a level of hostility, which elevates the fervor of the competition, and you all go out there and compete, and everyone gets paid! he continued.
“But unfortunately, it almost feels like there are people within the WNBA who wish they weren’t in a very successful position, because of their resentment toward it. And they don’t admit it, but I’ve been talking about it for months.”
Stephen A. Smith talks about Caitlin Clark being the ‘Golden Goose’ and how the WNBA is cheating on her
“There’s nothing with resentment (against CC). But unfortunately, some people don’t want to be in a successful position because of their resentment towards her.” pic.twitter.com/JYMhBrnQAu
-AK (@Sudharsan_AK10) June 5, 2025
Smith has in fact been talking about it for months now, and his feelings about this “resentment” remain as strong as ever.
