Recently, ESPN writer David Dennis Jr. stirred controversy by celebrating Caitlin Clark’s elimination from the WNBA playoffs. He shared a photo of himself smiling and followed up with a thread mocking Clark as overrated. Dennis reiterated his belief that Clark is not among the top four WNBA guards, suggesting this postseason supported his view.
“But let the record reflect that I was 100% right here as well. Because yes we did talk about winning and my concerns about her game translating to winning,” Dennis wrote. He then highlighted Clark’s first-round loss, expressing satisfaction over the outcome.
He referenced a team with allegedly three top ten players, as per ESPN, noting their proximity to the Finals even without their star player. This, he argued, warrants questioning Clark’s impact.
Despite these claims, Clark delivered a historic performance, becoming the first WNBA player to achieve 25+ points and 15 assists in a game. It is important to note that the Fever faced the Las Vegas Aces, overwhelming favorites to claim their fourth title in five years. Therefore, attributing the loss solely to Clark seems unfair.
ESPN’s association with Dennis raises eyebrows. His public disdain for Clark, a prominent televised figure in the WNBA, is akin to an NBC personality gloating over a significant team’s departure during a Super Bowl broadcast year.
Some view Dennis as a sensationalist. He previously urged Caitlin Clark’s fanbase to abandon the WNBA and has engaged in controversial rhetoric. Hired by ESPN in 2021, Dennis’s recruitment emphasized diversity following George Floyd’s death.
This past association with race-focused narratives confounds observers, as he expressed being mortified by an advertisement seen as promoting eugenics.
Others, like Jessica Smetana from Dan Le Batard’s circle, echo similar sentiments. After the Fever’s exit, Smetana made disparaging comments about Sophie Cunningham.
Despite their criticism, these commentators allege that Black lesbian women are recurrent targets in sports media, a claim some find disingenuous.