News | International
17 Jun 2024 11:59
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > International

    Caitlin Clark is not hated within WNBA, say Becky Hammon and A'ja Wilson

    The outsized spotlight on Caitlin Clark has prompted some to suggest others in the WNBA are jealous of her, but two champions of the league say that is nonsense.


    Two legends of the WNBA have rubbished rumours of jealousy or pettiness within the league towards Caitlin Clark after her high-profile arrival as the number one draft pick.

    Clark has copped some physical treatment on the court as her Indiana Fever struggled to an 0-5 start to the season.

    Despite no-one saying as much, rumours emerged that some veteran WNBA players may not have appreciated the outsized spotlight on Clark, whose arrival after a record-breaking college career saw the league receive unprecedented viewership and funds.

    "Y'all petty, girls," former NBA MVP and legendary broadcaster Charles Barkley said on television coverage of the men's play-offs.

    "I expect men to be petty, because we're the most insecure group in the world, [but] y'all should be thanking that girl for getting y'all ass private charters.

    "All the money and visibility she's bringing to the WNBA; don't be petty like dudes. What she's accomplished, give her her flowers."

    But WNBA great and current championship-winning coach of the Las Vegas Aces Becky Hammon said there was no animosity towards the young star.

    "We love Caitlin Clark. I think she's amazing. I watch every time I possibly can. And our league loves her," Hammon said.

    "This narrative of everybody hating on Caitlin Clark, and even the black and white thing, knock it off.

    "It's not there. It's not there. Shut down the noise."

    The Fever eventually got their first win of the season against the Los Angeles Sparks on Saturday (AEST), with Clark almost getting a triple-double, with 11 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.

    She also had four steals and nailed a trademark deep three to seal the 78-73.

    While she sits in the top 10 for assists and three-pointers made per game, she has struggled with low percentages from the field and from deep.

    But two-time WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson said that is typical of a first-year player and said she can only imagine how "exhausted" Clark must be with all the attention.

    "She's learning and growing just like everyone else. People don't give her a chance," she said.

    "I tell our rookies every day 'this is new, you're coming into a whole new world and starting over'.

    "The questions are only annoying because she's young, she's a rookie, [and] y'all are asking us these question as if she's a grown ass woman that's been in this league for years.

    "I'm just exhausted over the conversation because I know she's exhausted, I can only imagine."

    Hammon, Wilson and the rest of the reigning champion Aces take on Clark's Fever on Sunday.

    © 2024 ABC Australian Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved

     Other International News
     17 Jun: Bryson DeChambeau wins his second US Open golf title after Rory McIlroy misses crucial putts
     17 Jun: New Caledonia's La Tontouta international airport reopens, curfew reduced as riots ease
     17 Jun: German police shoot man wielding pickaxe and Molotov cocktail ahead of Euro 2024 game in Hamburg
     16 Jun: Israeli military announces 'tactical pauses' in southern Gaza fighting to boost aid flow
     16 Jun: NSW allocates $450 million for more than 400 build-to-rent homes for essential workers
     16 Jun: Protesters march against France's far-right National Rally Party ahead of snap elections
     16 Jun: US swimmer Gretchen Walsh breaks world record to put Australia on notice following Paris Olympics trials
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    All Blacks playmaker Beauden Barrett has made his return to rugby on New Zealand shores, suiting up for Coastal in the Taranaki Premier club rugby competition yesterday More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    The national average house price is falling, despite increasing in most regions More...



     Today's News

    Golf:
    Bryson DeChambeau wins his second US Open golf title after Rory McIlroy misses crucial putts 11:57

    Entertainment:
    David Beckham says a Spice Girls reunion is "not happening" 11:46

    Rugby League:
    Warriors forward Kurt Capewell has been recalled to Queensland for next Wednesday's second State of Origin league match 11:27

    Motoring:
    State Highway One south of Taihape has been closed all morning, after a crash early today 11:17

    Entertainment:
    Rihanna suffered traumatic "waves" of postpartum hair loss 11:16

    General:
    Single sculler Tom Mackintosh has tasted World Cup victory in the boat for the first time, six weeks from the Olympics 11:07

    Health & Safety:
    Communication and record-keeping failures from two GPs undermined palliative care for a man with terminal lung cancer 10:47

    Politics:
    French snap elections: ‘cohabitation’ could reshuffle the cards between president and prime minister 10:37

    Golf:
    Golfer Rory McIlroy has taken the lead at the US Open in the final round 10:27

    National:
    Has Reform really overtaken the Tories in the polls? And does that mean it could beat them on July 4? 10:27


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2024 New Zealand City Ltd