Tennis legend Billie Jean King advises WNBA players to appreciate the opportunity of playing alongside the Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, who faces constant hatred and racism.
Veterans have been vicious on Clark in her rookie year, with tensions escalating on Saturday when Sky guard Chennedy Carter delivered a cheap shot and showed no remorse. King urged the WNBA not to squander this chance.
“This generation is so important for the WNBA, you have to set an example. Children are watching. How do you want to be remembered? This generation has a chance to set this league on fire. Don’t blow it with animosity. Do not blow it. Just play ball. Play hard but no cheap shots,” King told USA Today.
King highlighted how Clark, the 2024 top draft pick and NCAA all-time scoring leader, has already boosted the league.
“As great as the WNBA has been, with amazing stars like Maya Moore, Sheryl Swoopes, Candace Parker, Diana Taurasi, A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart, among others, this year is a turning point, and it’s because of Caitlin,” she said.
“Breaking the college records, everyone wearing the No. 22 jerseys. Things are going good for the WNBA, for women’s sports. They are amazing for everyone with all these sellouts and all this interest and we’ve got to keep that going now.
“Whether you like it or not, Caitlin is the reason for so much of this interest. She’s a superstar. When she does well, everyone does better. The league is going to do better. The veterans were the building blocks and now Caitlin and this rookie class have this incredible platform to take the league to an entirely new place.”
Billie Jean King doesn’t want WNBA to ‘blow it’ with Caitlin Clark hostility https://t.co/R9suTXc4um pic.twitter.com/HodPrp9KfF
— New York Post (@nypost) June 4, 2024
