CNN Gives Insane Racially Charged Defense Of Caitlin Clark Hate

The hatred and physical targeting of Caitlin Clark has nothing to do with the WNBA superstar’s white skin, and suggesting such a thing is kind of racist, a CNN guest recently argued.

Clark — a once-in-a-generation talent who has boosted WNBA viewership and merch sales at record-setting levels — is a constant target of some WNBA players and execs. But according to sports broadcaster Cari Champion, there is no unusual targeting of Clark, who recently appeared to be throat-punched on the court. Further, suggesting that this phantom Clark disdain has anything to do with Clark’s white skin or straight sexual orientation is effectively racist and “disrespectful” to black LGBT players.

“I think it’s really, really disrespectful in so many different ways,” Champion said. “What has been happening to Caitlin has been happening since the inception of the WNBA. These women play tough. They play hard. It’s sports. To suggest that it is intentional or that people are being racist towards her leaves out a long history of women who supported this league and started this league who were black.”

“It’s very disrespectful to them, the women who are the foundation of the league; 70% of the people in the league are LGBTQIA and black,” Champion added.

She said that LGBT black players now go to work “every single day” fearing “death threats.” Champion seemed to refer to Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas, claiming she was the victim of threats after she was suspended for what looked like a throat punch against Clark at a recent game.

CNN’s “Table for Five” host Abby Phillip said the support Clark is receiving from some GOP lawmakers is due to her race. They only care about Clark because she’s white, Phillip argued.

“The problem with Caitlin Clark is that she is a superstar. She’s great at what she does. However, the attention that she’s getting from Republicans and from government seems to be exclusively because she is white,” the CNN host said.

“That’s the only reason,” Champion agreed.

As highlighted by The Daily Wire, Clark is a routine target of excessive physicality and cheap shots on the court. She faced several controversial hard fouls during her rookie season, before the notable incident with Thomas.

Hatred of Clark reached comical levels earlier this month, when WNBA players voting for the All-Star Game ranked Clark as the 11th-best guard in the league. Sports commentator Colin Cowherd said the vote was so absurd it was “funny,” adding that the “animosity” toward Clark is “so petty.”

Though she entered the league just three seasons ago, Clark has already broken WNBA records. In her rookie season, she set the WNBA single-season assists record with 337 assists and established the WNBA single-game assists record with 19 assists in a single game. She also became the first rookie in WNBA history to record a triple-double.

Additionally, to much criticism, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert did not include Clark on the league’s 30-year commemorative poster.

Related: Latest Stunt Shows Just How Much WNBA Hates Star Player Caitlin Clark