Social media cries foul on Sheryl Swoopes’ misinformation campaign around Caitlin Clark
One of the pitfalls of the massive surge in popularity of women’s basketball and the increased media attention is the increase in the number of people who have no idea what the heck they’re talking about.
Now, I thought this type of statement would be about one of the usual culprits: the Skip Baylesses, the Colin Cowherds or maybe Stephen A. Smiths of the world. The talking heads who are undoubtedly great at their jobs and at getting attention, but we know they can make some pretty outlandish, uninformed claims on television.
I didn’t think it would be coming from one of the greatest players in women’s basketball history.
So, Sheryl Swoopes — you know, former three-time WNBA MVP Sheryl Swoopes — recently went on former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas’ podcast and, naturally, the topic of women’s basketball came up.
Some of the comments Swoopes made about the stars of today’s game, LSU‘s Angel Reese and Iowa‘s Caitlin Clark, made headlines for how she thinks they will translate to the WNBA.
Sheryl Swoopes says the WNBA will NOT be an easy transition for Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark
Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/R3WN36yDop
— Gilbert Arenas (@GilsArenaShow) January 31, 2024
I actually agree with a number of points she’s making here. The WNBA is the best of the best in women’s basketball. The people that are still hating on it need to find jobs, because there are some elite ballers there. The jump from the (sort of) amateur levels to the pros is gigantic in any sport, because every player in the league belongs.
While we may not necessarily agree on that point by Swoopes about Clark, the overarching point about the WNBA being stiffer competition is absolutely valid. That statement by Swoopes is not the problem. The problem is the misinformation spread about Clark in the podcast episode to discredit the Iowa point guard.
In the podcast, Swoopes talks about Clark rapidly approaching Kelsey Plum’s all-time NCAA women’s basketball scoring record and gets a whole lot wrong.
A clip of Sheryl talking about Caitlin Clark went viral. But I see yall tried to bury this one
If ANYBODY else was this loud and wrong with misinformation yall woulda lit this app on fire. But since its about CC yall pretended it didnt happen. Nasty 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/jKvRRIMfF9
— Future Of The Retro (@TraeK_) February 4, 2024
“If you’re going to break a record, to me, if it’s legitimate, you have to break that record in the same amount of time that that player set it. Right. So, if Kelsey Plum set that record in four years, well, Caitlin should have broken that record in four years,” Swoope said. “But because there’s a COVID year, and then there’s another year, you know what I mean? She’s already had an extra year to break that record. So is it truly a broken record?”
Don’t worry Ms. Swoopes. Since you don’t know the answer, and didn’t bother doing a quick Google search before going off on your tangent, I’ll provide the answer. Caitlin Clark only just turned 22, and she’s only in her fourth year at Iowa. That’s the same four years that were afforded to Kelsey Plum when she set the record.
What’s frustrating is not that Caitlin Clark is getting hate. The great players get hate because people are jealous. People have hated on LeBron James since he was in high school and they still do.
No, the problem is that the hate is always unchecked. It is based on misinformation and lies. People have run out of criticisms, run out of ways to hate, so they’ve made new ones up.
I guess when you’re hating on a player as good as Caitlin Clark is, you have to create your own imaginary straws to grasp at.
Social media wasn’t having it, making sure Swoopes and others know that this narrative is just flat-out wrong.
And here's your numbers
Kelsey Plum college stats:
• 3,527 pts
• 4 yrs (2013-17)
• 139 games
• 25.4 PPGCaitlin Clark college stats (& counting):
• 3,462 pts
• 4 yrs (2020-24)
• 123 games
• 28.1 PPGAll it takes is a quick Google search. https://t.co/9i75BSV5Ti
— Ben Stevens (@BenScottStevens) February 4, 2024
The official account sounds off!
Allow us to introduce you to @CaitlinClark22:
▫️ Age: 22
▫️ Grade: True senior (4th year)
▫️ Games played: 123
▫️ Points: 3,462
▫️ Assists: 980
▫️ FGA/per game: 19.7#Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/Z6ShxynYn0— Iowa Women's Basketball (@IowaWBB) February 4, 2024
Just making things up
…Caitlin Clark is in her fourth year and is going to likely break plums record in less games. Sheryl Swoopes is making things up. https://t.co/7I9or2j23Y
— hawkize (@stillnothawkize) February 4, 2024
Can you imagine?
Just imagine doing an interview and being this misinformed 😂😂😂😂😂 I don’t even understand what she’s trying to say https://t.co/xNuw6gviOK
— Connor McCaffery (@connor_m30) February 4, 2024
It's actually crazy
Sheryl Swoopes hating Caitlin Clark while getting every single fact wrong is crazy
— Iowa women’s bball stan (@OJMayo00) February 4, 2024
The misinformation is strong
sheryl swoopes goes to the iowa twitter fan school of misinformation
— husky tracks (@huskytrax5) February 4, 2024
Hilariously erroneous
If you’re gonna come with this kind of take you have to have your facts straight. She also threw out the hilariously erroneous line about Caitlin shooting “40 times a game”. https://t.co/TLMD3GHyml
— Chris Hassel (@Hassel_Chris) February 4, 2024
Better be 100%
If you’re going to go hard at someone and tear them down you better be 100% sure on your facts. Sheryl Swoopes and Gilbert Arenas are clowns and an embarrassment. https://t.co/QoED3clmF9
— Mr. SOUNDOFF (@johnsears) February 4, 2024
Hmm
Hmmmmm. Caitlin Clark is in her 4th year of college hoop… not sure what the Covid year means in this convo https://t.co/wMPMC63PN7
— Doug Gottlieb (@GottliebShow) February 4, 2024
Just embarrassing
This is embarrassing for everyone involved, especially Sheryl Swoopes.
This level of hate is almost propaganda-like. https://t.co/F4Iye1ld2x
— Quinn Douglas (@Quinn_Douglas_) February 4, 2024
OK, this might actually be a good thing on some level
Also, it’s a good sign the women’s game is growing if we have people out there dropping Skip Bayless-level bad takes https://t.co/dfmrc7WLyb
— Barstool Iowa (@BarstoolUIowa) February 4, 2024
It would solve all of this
Maybe I should hire Sheryl swoopes to do a cameo where she reads off Caitlin’s actual stats and how many seasons she’s actually played… pic.twitter.com/TTCQacNCWh
— Jay – Upper East Side Hawk (@wasUESH) February 4, 2024
Just don't understand it
I LOVE Sheryl Swoopes, but she's buggin lol. Caitlin is gonna break that record because she's amazing and deserving. Not because of a covid year or because she's a gunner (leads the nation is assists at 7.9 apg) I never understood the hate for Clark. So wack. She's HER. https://t.co/xwEZweXYJu
— Coach Flanny 🏁🏳️🌈 (@YeahFlanny) February 4, 2024
It would help if she did know what she was talking about
Before anyone says something out of line pls check Sheryl Swoopes resume. She knows what she’s talking about. This is for non-WNBA fans. You don’t know how many great players are in the league cause they are not talked about enough. https://t.co/RGxLk1tLju
— Can ♓️💫 (@prettycan4) January 31, 2024
In regards to all those shots
I think Sheryl Swoopes comments on Caitlin Clark have validity but there are always exceptions to rules. She is not getting 20 shots a night off rip but if she shows she is special early she is going to be an exception to whatever norms there are in the W.
— 500 🏎 (@Kameron_Hay) January 31, 2024
The Three Haters
Sheryl, Shimmy & Dawn need to start a podcast. What would you name it? 🤔
— Ray Ortega (@RayJOrtega) February 4, 2024
Just ignore and move on?
Do yourself a favor and just ignore everything regarding the video of Sheryl Swoopes talking about Caitlin Clark. Swoopes clearly didn’t know what she was talking about.
— Ben Schuff (@BRSchuff) February 4, 2024
I mean...
Look how quickly Caitlin Clark got to the basket. I think she'll be doing this really well in the @WNBA. Sheryl Swoopes is wrong about what she said regarding Caitlin Clark. pic.twitter.com/azgz90U6KF
— Alberta Parish (@AlbertaLParish) February 2, 2024
Oof
Sheryl Swoopes doubling and tripling down on blatantly false information is incredibly telling. Lotta time to tweet– absolutely zero substance or any sort of apology.
Disappointing.
— David Eickholt (@DavidEickholt) February 5, 2024
Phone a friend
How many people will Sheryl Swoopes block today?
— KeegHim (@KeegansBurner) February 4, 2024
Sheryl Swoopes out there hitting up Dawn Staley asking how the block feature works on Twitter
— Chris Weiner (@HawkinIL) February 4, 2024
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