Legendary UConn women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma weighed in on the ongoing drama around WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark.
Earlier this week, Chicago Sky player Chennedy Carter cheapshotted the illustrious Clark, who left the University of Iowa as the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer earlier this year. The incident has sparked a tidal wave of discourse that hasn’t receded quite yet.
Auriemma spoke on the situation this week, and the legendary coach had a lot to say. While he acknowledged that there will be growing pains, Auriemma also played it straight.
“So is she facing the rookie challenge, the rookie hardships that are inherent with being a rookie? Yes. She’s also being targeted,” Auriema said via CT Insider.
More from Auriemma, via the CT Insider:
“I don’t remember when (Michael) Jordan came into the league guys looking to go out and beat him up. I don’t remember when Bird and Magic came in the league and elevated the NBA, I don’t remember them getting targeted and getting beat up just because of who they were and the attention they we’re getting. And I’ve never heard one of them say, ‘Hey, why didn’t you do this when we were playing?’ Because nobody felt like it. It wasn’t the time.”
Auriemma questioned why anyone was blaming Clark, much like others have pondered openly. That brings the point home here. Clark certainly didn’t ask for any of this, and to her credit, she’s kept her head down and chugged on. But there will likely be a continued rise in people talking about her in every which way. Hopefully, things can reset a bit, as it’s gotten out of hand.
