Podcaster says racists are posing as Caitlin Clark fans to ‘terrorize’ WNBA’s black players

Fox Sports personality Nick Wright claimed that racists have been posing as fans of WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark to “terrorize” the league’s black players.

In a provocative take on the latest edition of his “What’s Wright” podcast, the host highlighted a shirt worn by a white female fan during Game 2 of the playoffs between Clark’s Indiana Fever and the Connecticut Sun after Sun player DiJonai Carrington jabbed the rookie sensation in the eye during the first game. The shirt read “BAN NAILS” referring to Carrington’s acrylic fingernails.

Wright singled out the fan as an example of the perceived racist abuse that black players, including Alyssa Thomas of the Sun, have been complaining about, and suggested that Clark has become a convenient vehicle for racists who are among the new WNBA fans that Clark has brought to the league with her stellar play.

(Video: YouTube)

“On that bandwagon were folks that weren’t fans of basketball, that weren’t even actual fans of Caitlin Clark,” Wright said. “They were fans of what they thought Caitlin could represent, which was the humbling of black women, and you got this cavalcade of open, unabashed racists who tried to put a hood of Caitlin Clark fandom, and on social internet — and last night, in person — tried their best to terrorize her opposition.”

“And while I have said I think it’d be better for everyone not to read their social media feeds, that’s easier said than done; and DiJonai got a damn email from somebody saying, basically, ‘Hope you die,’” he added, referring to Carrington’s claim that she has been inundated with hate over the “accidental” gouging of Clark’s eye during game action.

When pressed by reporters about the alleged racism directed at her black colleagues, Clark took the high road as she has repeatedly done during a season when she has been targeted with thuggery on numerous occasions, muggings that some have attributed to racism and jealousy over the league’s “savior” who’s straight and white.

(Video: YouTube)

“Those aren’t fans. Those are trolls,” the basketball wunderkind said after the Fever was ousted from the playoffs on Friday. “Nobody in our league should be facing any sort of racism, disrespectful or hurtful comments and threats.”

Clark was responding to a question about a statement issued by the WNBA about the “racist, derogatory or threatening comments” from its new fans.

“The WNBA is a competitive league with some most elite athletes in the world. While we welcome a growing fan base, the WNBA will not tolerate racist, derogatory, or threatening comments made about players, teams and anyone affiliated with the league,” the statement read.

“League security is actively monitoring threat-related activity and will work directly with teams and arenas to take appropriate measures, to include involving law enforcement, as necessary,” the WNBA said.

The statement was put out after Thomas accused Fever fans of being racists.

“We’ve been professional throughout the whole entire thing, but I’ve never been called the things that I’ve been calling on social media, and there’s no place for it,” she said. “Basketball is headed in a great direction, but no, we don’t want fans that are going to degrade us and call us racial names. “

Chris Donaldson

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