Cheryl Miller Slams Critics Targeting Caitlin Clark Amid Race, Rivalry, and Media Narratives
Basketball icon Cheryl Miller has had enough of what she sees as unwarranted criticism toward Indiana Fever’s sharpshooting sensation, Caitlin Clark. The Hall of Famer didn’t hold back, calling out the “big dummies” scrutinizing Clark’s game.
“I felt for her. I know what it’s like to be hated,” Miller said on the All the Smoke podcast. “As a Black woman, I’ve experienced that hate firsthand. I can’t imagine what this young lady is going through.”
Miller, a trailblazer in women’s basketball whose dominance at USC predated the WNBA, understands the pressures of being in the spotlight. While Clark’s arrival has propelled the league to record-breaking viewership and attendance, she has also faced intense criticism something generations of female athletes before her have endured.
Much of the public discourse has centered around Clark’s growing rivalry with Chicago Sky star Angel Reese, with media and fans amplifying the racial dynamic between Clark, who is White, and Reese, who is Black.
Miller acknowledged Clark’s confidence, saying, “She’s cocky and rightfully so. But the media tried to push a narrative, and I was glad to see the truth was different. Angel and Clark actually get along really well.”
Even within the WNBA, concerns about racial bias have surfaced. Some argue Clark garners outsized attention because she’s White, while others believe she faces harsher scrutiny as a White player in a predominantly Black league.
Washington Mystics co-owner Sheila Johnson weighed in last year, telling CNN: “It’s just how the media frames race. I’ve seen so many talented Black players who never got the recognition they deserved.”
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert also touched on the racial aspect, comparing the situation to the legendary Larry Bird-Magic Johnson rivalry. “You need rivalries in sports,” Engelbert said, though her comments drew backlash from some players.
As the 2025 WNBA season tips off on May 16, the Clark-Reese dynamic will undoubtedly continue to fuel discussion both on and off the court.
