Caitlin Clark is like ‘LeBron James of WNBA’ with a huge fan following, a generational talent who took the league to the next level. Even though she has yet to win a championship, she certainly showed the capability to change the results of the games in her team’s favor. There is one more striking similarity between CC and LBJ: both have supporters and critics at an extreme level.
While WNBA analysts praised the 2024 rookie, Skip Bayless raised questions over her recent injury and was skeptical about giving the player credit for the Fever’s success. But now, he came up clean on his points.
Skip Bayless Accepts Delay In Praising Caitlin Clark
In the recent episode of the Skip Bayless show, the analyst mentioned that he has been watching the WNBA more closely since the Fever guard’s arrival and accepted that she is a good player.
Later, he added that he feared about his racial connection, calling it “worried he’d look like a ‘red state White guy cheering for a red state White girl.” Trying to avoid adding gasoline to the racial fire, he decided not to praise the player straightaway.
Skip Bayless admitted that he thought Caitlin Clark is amazing but hesitated to say it, worried he’d look like a ‘red state White guy cheering for a red state White girl.’
— Taya (@travelingflying) January 16, 2026
Irrational White guilt stops many White people from supporting each other. pic.twitter.com/hIKweKrXTc
But Bayless agreed on CC’s popularity and even accused Sophie Cunningham of riding on Clark’s popularity. Now we might hear some good words from the ‘ever reserved’ analyst.
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Unlike Bayless, though, another high-profile analyst, Stephen A smith, didn’t waste time spotting the talent and lauded the former Iowa star.
Stephen A Smith Calls Caitlin Clark an Ultimate Superstar
SAS is ESPN’s A-list analyst and runs the most popular shows on the network. Taking the primetime, he showed his grip on the fanbase and also on the league. He started praising the WNBA rookie right from the start and even called her the ultimate star.
Smith said, “Caitlin Clark is a cash cow. She is a box office. This is a person who’s ‘everything she touches with women’s basketball turns to gold.’ They didn’t have chartered jets until she arrived. She arrived, and they had chartered jets two weeks later.”
🚨Stephen A. Smith on Caitlin Clark being the biggest superstar in WNBA!
— JMac | Ball Up | 🏀🏈 (@Gameis_gameLFG) November 3, 2025
“Caitlin Clark is a person that everything she touches with women’s basketball turns to gold… she is the future of the WNBA." pic.twitter.com/87881bQZSV
He highlighted her impact on the ratings with an example of the recent All-Star game viewership numbers. But keeping A’ja Wilson at the top in terms of plays, Smith mentioned that Clark would eventually reach there.