ESPN analyst Ryan Clark believes the men covering the WNBA should take a backseat to the women who have been covering the league in light of recent coverage.
During a Thursday segment on his podcast The Pivot, Clark — along with fellow former NFL pros Fred Taylor and Channing Crowder — discussed the discourse involving Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark. The rookie has been the subject of debate all week after taking a hard foul from Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter. What initially began as a basketball conversation has since touched on race, sexuality, and perceived resentment that some believe WNBA veterans have toward Caitlin.
With so many new eyes on the league, Ryan expressed his belief that male figures in the media are off to a rough start. He then named several of his female colleagues who he thinks should be leading the conversation.
“This is the most recognition the WNBA has ever gotten,” Ryan said, “and what’s crazy is I feel like men are missing the boat. We should probably follow the women that have always supported women’s basketball. We should look at the [Andraya Carter], and the [Chiney Ogwumike], and the [Elle Duncan], and the [Monica McNutt], the [Rebecca Lobo] — all of these people who have always been deep into women’s basketball, whether it be the NCAA or the WNBA.”
Ryan also commended Los Angeles Sparks forward Cameron Brink for acknowledging her privilege as a straight,
“That’s what it’s about,” he said. “That’s what the women are about; and I think it’s more on the men’s side, we’re being divisive. So, for me, it’s about, ‘How do we watch this game, analyze this game, to continue to elevate this game?'”