'Inside the NBA' star Charles Barkley defends Caitlin Clark from 'petty women' amid 'pretty privilege' claims over rookie's meteoric WNBA rise

Barkley called women out for being 'petty' when it comes to Clark's success A number of people have been critical of the level of success Clark already has READ MORE: LeBron James offers Caitlin Clark advice to cope with expectations

'Inside The NBA' analyst Charles Barkley took time to blast those who have been critical of Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark in recent days.

Barkley was reacting to a tweet from LeBron James, advising Clark to 'Put your blinders on' when it comes to backlash or hate from the public.

The analyst agreed, and took time before tip off of Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Dallas Mavericks to clap back at Clark's critics.

'You women out there, y'all petty, man,' Barkley began.

'Hey, LeBron, you're 100% right on these girls hating on Caitlin Clark - You're all are petty girls.

Charles Barkley blasted what he called 'petty women' who have criticized Caitlin Clark

Charles Barkley blasted what he called 'petty women' who have criticized Caitlin Clark

Clark is still in her rookie season, but she's already bringing increased attention to the WNBA

Clark is still in her rookie season, but she's already bringing increased attention to the WNBA

Read More

LeBron James offers Caitlin Clark advice to cope with her 'out of this world' expectation after WNBA star's nightmare run extended to 0-5

article image

'I expect men to be petty because we're the most insecure group in the world.

'Y'all should be thinking that girl for getting y'all a** private charters. All the money in visibility that she bringing to the WNBA. Don't be petty like dudes.

'Listen, what she's accomplished, give her her flowers. Stop being petty all you women out there. She got y'all a** charters.

'She bringing all y'all this money to the table. But y'all being petty like dudes.

'Lebron, you are 100% right. You all girls, stop being petted. Caitlin Clark, thank you for bringing all that money and shine to the WNBA.'

Draymond Green, who was on the desk, joked that Clark's detractors are 'gonna hate you even more now Chuck'.

Barkley replied, 'Listen, they can't do anything to me. They can hate on me, but that mailman better be in my d**n house the first and the 15th', likely alluding to a bi-weekly pay schedule.

Clark's rise in popularity through college has carried over to the pro ranks with an increase in attention to the WNBA widely attributed to her.

But that's come with a number of people who have criticized that rise due to Clark's skin color and what some are calling 'pretty privilege'.

Jemele Hill said part of Clark's success is 'problematic' in an interview with the LA Times

Jemele Hill said part of Clark's success is 'problematic' in an interview with the LA Times

Sunny Hostin insisted that Caitlin Clark's popularity comes from 'pretty and white privilege'

Sunny Hostin insisted that Caitlin Clark's popularity comes from 'pretty and white privilege'

On an episode of The View, contributor Sunny Hostin said she believes that Clark was much more marketable because she's more relatable - meaning she's white, straight, and benefits from 'pretty privilege'.

'I do think that there is a thing called pretty privilege,' Hostin said. 'There is a thing called White privilege. There is a thing called tall privilege, and we have to acknowledge that.'

'And so part of it is about race because if you think about the Brittney Griners of the world, why did she have to go to play in Russia? Because they wouldn't pay her,' she said of the WNBA.

She continued: 'Now, Caitlin Clark is bringing this money, these sponsorships, we hope, into the league, and other players will benefit from it. But I do think that she is more relatable to more people because she's White, because she's attractive, and unfortunately, there still is that stigma against the LGBTQ+ community.'

Former SportsCenter host and current Atlantic writer Jemele Hill holds a similar view, and told the LA Times, 'We would all be very naive if we didn't say race and her sexuality played a role in her popularity.

'While so many people are happy for Caitlin's success -  including the players; this has had such an enormous impact on the game - there is a part of it that is a little problematic because of what it says about the worth and the marketability of the players who are already there.'

Hill continued,  'It's not jealousy. It's just the fact that in our society, Black women are often erased from the picture.

'While Caitlin Clark's success should be widely celebrated, there are various points where we have seen dynamic phenoms and how they have been able to popularize the game. It's just that, for whatever reason, could be race, could be gender, could be a myriad of factors, that same marketing muscle that seems very intentional about making sure that Caitlin Clark is a superstar was missing for them.'

Two-time league MVP A'ja Wilson said that Clark's race is 'a huge thing' for her marketability

Two-time league MVP A'ja Wilson said that Clark's race is 'a huge thing' for her marketability

Read More

Caitlin Clark's race 'is a huge thing' in her rise in popularity, claims WNBA star A'ja Wilson: 'Boils my blood'

article image

Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson said similar views when it came to Clark in the aftermath of an announcement about the latter's signature shoe.

'I think it's a huge thing. I think a lot of people may say it's not about Black and white, but to me, it is,' Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson said when asked in an interview with the Associated Press about the race element in Clark's popularity and before she recently signed two major endorsement deals.

'It really is because you can be top notch at what you are as a Black woman, but yet maybe that's something that people don't want to see.

'They don't see it as marketable, so it doesn't matter how hard I work. It doesn't matter what we all do as Black women, we're still going to be swept underneath the rug. That's why it boils my blood when people say it's not about race because it is.'

OTHER NEWS

31 minutes ago

"Pogacar seems unbeatable, so we must aim for stage victories": What can EF-boys Powless and Van den Berg pull off in the Tour?

31 minutes ago

Samantha Murphy: Cop makes bleak admission about the endless search for missing Ballarat mum after discovery by a dam renewed hopes of finding her body

31 minutes ago

Video: Married At First Sight's Martha Kalifatidis and Michael Brunelli's one-year-old son Lucius shares first words

31 minutes ago

Video: All the best videos from Trooping the Colour: Kate's great comeback, glimpses behind the scenes and Charlotte and Louis acting up

36 minutes ago

Sex attacker dubbed 'Coronation Street rapist' launches NEW parole bid - despite breaking rules when he was last released from jail

36 minutes ago

Jobless man, 60, who still lives with his mother smashed woman's windscreen with his fists in fit of rage after she turned her car around in his driveway

36 minutes ago

From AI-powered limb-tracking to a match ball with a chip inside: The futuristic technologies powering Euro 2024 in Germany this month, revealed

36 minutes ago

NASA's Chandra X-ray telescope captures closest super star cluster to Earth (image)

40 minutes ago

Happy Father's Day! Amanda Holden and Charlotte Crosby lead the stars marking the occasion with sweet family snaps and heartfelt tributes

41 minutes ago

Ben Johnson to Snub Crystal Palace and Stay at West Ham

41 minutes ago

Alan Shearer spots England's biggest problem at Euro 2024 as he names ideal starting XI

41 minutes ago

England faces Serbia in Euro 2024 group opener aiming to end 58 years of hurt

41 minutes ago

Koeman shrugs off hiccups and insists Netherlands have fighting chance

41 minutes ago

Why 'The Apprentice' Filmmakers Have Not Yet Secured a US Distribution Deal | Analysis

42 minutes ago

Married At First Sight's Martha Kalifatidis and Michael Brunelli's one-year-old son Lucius shares first words

42 minutes ago

‘He looked like a starving dog on the floor’: Prisoner trapped on indefinite jail term driven to hunger strike

45 minutes ago

England XI vs Serbia: Predicted lineup, confirmed Euro 2024 team news and injuries today

45 minutes ago

Kelly Ripa Sparks Fierce Debate After Calling Out a Common Nighttime Habit

45 minutes ago

Relebohile Mofokeng in strong Bafana Bafana Cosafa Cup prelim squad

45 minutes ago

Bryson DeChambeau leads US Open by three after birdie spree

45 minutes ago

Tee Higgins extension considered 'longshot' as Bengals WR signs franchise tag

45 minutes ago

Rose Ayling-Ellis 'set to front a new TV show promoting British Sign Language' following success of her documentary Signs For Change

45 minutes ago

Selena Gomez and her boyfriend Benny Blanco can't keep their hands off each other as they share a passionate kiss in Malibu

45 minutes ago

Clubs that have sent the most players to Euro 2024 REVEALED - so use our search table to see how many got the call-up from your team...

45 minutes ago

Jude Bellingham posed for SKIMS but he is not the first England player to flaunt their underwear - with David Beckham, Gary Lineker and Lioness heroine Chloe Kelly having done so too

45 minutes ago

Australia's Mitchell Starc insists his side were NOT aiming to throw Scotland game to knock England out of the World Cup despite Josh Hazlewood's stunning admission

45 minutes ago

Brooklyn Beckham and wife Nicola Peltz left 'heartbroken' and claim 'life couldn't get any worse' following tragic and 'unexpected' death of their beloved dog Nala

45 minutes ago

Australia's record population surge is being driven by Indian migration: Here's why so many of them are moving here - and what they really think about life Down Under

45 minutes ago

FA 'warn England fans will have their Euro 2024 tickets confiscated if they misbehave in Germany'... as footage emerges of supporters singing '10 German bombers' in the streets ahead of clash with Serbia

45 minutes ago

Labour's Wes Streeting refuses to rule out council tax rises and revaluation under Keir Starmer government as Tories claim party is also quietly  admitting it will need more public  money for the NHS as well

45 minutes ago

South Australian pet food producers facing crackdown

45 minutes ago

African Court of Justice impotent in ending human rights abuses

50 minutes ago

Western leaders reject Russia's peace offer

50 minutes ago

Kensington Palace post behind-the-scenes preparations for the King’s birthday

50 minutes ago

Croke Park brawl, penalties and All-Ireland Group deciders - the Armagh v Galway trilogy

50 minutes ago

Jets RB Breece Hall ready for showdown with former teammate Brock Purdy

50 minutes ago

Emmett Bradley's late goal saves Derry's season against Westmeath

50 minutes ago

Ledecky punches ticket to Paris Games, Walsh sets world record in Indy

50 minutes ago

Labor's climate goals are why you are 'paying so much' for your groceries: Peter Dutton

51 minutes ago

Giovanni Pernice makes first statement after Strictly Come Dancing exit