*Former ESPN anchor Jemele Hill lashed out over ‘irresponsible’ reports about Caitlin Clark’s popularity despite appearing to agree with the headlines.
Sunday’s WNBA playoff matchup between the New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces became the most-watched semifinal in 22 years, with 929,000 average viewers, a 60% increase from last year. According to FOX News, Clark and her team the Indiana Fever drew record audiences of 1.84 million in her first playoff game against the Connecticut Sun on Sept. 22 and 2.54 million for Game 2 before they were eliminated. After Clark’s exit, interest in the WNBA playoffs dipped. Despite her take on “irresponsible headlines,” Hill admitted viewership would be higher with Clark.
“And yet I keep seeing irresponsible headlines claiming the WNBA playoffs are down because of no Caitlin Clark,” Hill wrote on X, adding, “Would the ratings be higher if she were in it? Of course. But guess what, [an NBA] Finals would rate higher if it were Lebron vs. Steph. Or, if big market teams were in the mix. So what? That’s the headline.”
As Daily Mail reports, fans were quick to accuse Hill of contradicting herself. One wrote: “Starts the post by stating the claim is false….follows up by stating the claim is true – Interesting approach.”
Another posted: “You literally just contradicted yourself. First sentence you say it’s irresponsible to say that ratings are down because CC isn’t playing, but right after you say that ratings would be higher if she were In it.”
Once again, if Caitlin Clark isn’t worshipped nonstop, you turn it into a crisis. Most players did not congratulate other players on their awards (see: Napheesa Collier). I do not recall a wave of WNBA or NBA players congratulating Aaliyah Boston on winning ROY last year. A’ja… https://t.co/s2tug4KaeZ
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) October 5, 2024
Days later, Hill addressed the ongoing social media debate about whether Clark’s fellow players were envious of her. It started when sports commentator Raquel with the handle @SOULbeautifulme, wrote: “I’ve seen more NBA players, athletes in different sports & different leagues congratulate Caitlin Clark for winning ROY over actual WNBA players that’s not on her team or college teammates, even Juju did,” she wrote, adding, “But I’m supposed to believe that a lot of them are not jealous of Caitlin??”
The post continued, “*I know they don’t have to congratulate her for the goofies who gonna state the obvious, please SHUT UP.”
Hill responded, “Once again, if Caitlin Clark isn’t worshipped nonstop, you turn it into a crisis. Most players did not congratulate other players on their awards (see: Napheesa Collier). I do not recall a wave of WNBA or NBA players congratulating Aaliyah Boston on winning ROY last year. A’ja teammates congratulated her on MVP, but it wasn’t some monstrous wave. Y’all are seriously exhausting.”
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