Caitlin Clark returned from injury with a performance for the ages; 32 points, 9 assists, and 8 rebounds in a shocking win over the previously unbeaten New York Liberty. But the buzz on social media wasn’t just about her stats — it was also about Skip Bayless.
Bayless, the fiery sports broadcaster known for bold, often divisive takes, sparked outrage with a viral video declaring Clark the “best player in the WNBA.” Comparing her to Steph Curry and calling her passing “extraordinary,” Bayless showered praise without acknowledging any flaws. That didn’t sit well with longtime WNBA fans.
WNBA Fans Fire Back at Bayless’s Over-the-Top Tribute
Clark’s performance was elite, 14 points in the first quarter alone and 25 by halftime. But the backlash wasn’t against her. It was against Bayless, who many feel is playing favorites again. Critics pointed out his history of tearing down legends like LeBron James, only to now blindly praise Clark while ignoring her 7 turnovers.
“She’s not even top 5 in her own league,” one fan wrote. Others brought up A’ja Wilson, Napheesa Collier, Kelsey Plum, and Sabrina Ionescu, all posting MVP-caliber numbers this season. And let’s not forget WNBA icons like Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, and Tamika Catchings, players who built their legacy over years, not weeks.
Bayless’s take felt premature to many. While Caitlin Clark is averaging 21.6 points and a league-best 9.2 assists per game, the talk of her being the greatest ever ignores the decades of dominance from past and present legends.
One fan even noted, “If this was LeBron, Skip would’ve led with the turnovers.”
Skip Bayless has made a career out of being polarizing, but this time, fans say he went too far. Clark’s talent is undeniable. But crowning her this early, in a league built by decades of greatness, comes off as disrespect, not to Clark, but to the WNBA itself.
Let Caitlin cook. But let the legacy talk wait.
Read More: 10 Reasons Caitlin Clark Has Changed the WNBA Forever
