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WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes doesn’t think Caitlin Clark’s record-setting rookie season is ‘dominant’
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WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes doesn’t think Caitlin Clark’s record-setting rookie season is ‘dominant’

WNBA icon Sheryl Swoopes has proven Caitlin Clark’s fans wrong once again with her latest comments about the Indiana Fever star.

Swoopes was a guest on the “Gil’s Arena” podcast and spoke about whether Clark is dominating the WNBA right now.

“If we had a number, if we were talking about dominating with Caitlin Clark, what would that number be?” asked three-time NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas.

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Caitlin Clark screams

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) questions why no foul was called in the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the Dallas Wings in Indianapolis, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP photo/Michael Conroy)

“Those are pretty damn good numbers. But to me, that’s not dominant,” Swoopes replied.

Swoopes further elaborated on her opinion, referencing previous statements in which she said Clark and fellow rookie Angel Reese would not immediately dominate in the W.

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“People were like, ‘Oh my God, you said she wouldn’t be good,’ but I didn’t say she wouldn’t be good,” Swoopes said. “What I said was I didn’t think Caitlin or Angel were going to come into the league and dominate right away, which I don’t think either of them did. … I still don’t think (Clark) dominates, but she’s a different player than she was the first half of the season.”

Swoopes may not believe Clark is dominating, but her numbers this season say otherwise. Clark is averaging 19.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 8.4 assists per game this season — a stat line that no one in WNBA history has matched or bettered.

Clark has also rewritten the WNBA record books, and not just in a rookie campaign. She has the most single-season assists (321) in league history and counting, while setting the WNBA record with 19 assists in a single game. She’s also the fastest player to reach 300 assists in history.

As for her rookie stats, Clark holds the record for points scored and assists in a single season, among other things.

Caitlin Clark dribbles

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) dribbles the ball down the court during Friday’s 99-88 loss to the Minnesota Lynx at Gainbride Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. (Grace Smith / USA TODAY NETWORK)

Swoopes thinks Clark has made an impression, but she doesn’t call it dominance.

“I never doubted that Caitlin was a good player; I think she’s a great player,” Swoopes explained. “I thought it would take her some time to adjust to professional life, and I think that’s exactly what she’s done.”

Hall of Famer Swoopes held an X Spaces earlier this month, where she addressed a controversy over past statements about Clark, saying she’s been criticized for being “unfair” to the Iowa Hawkeyes product.

Swoopes infamously cited Clark’s college resume and said the phrase “25-year-old playing against 20-year-olds” when talking about the tremendous success she had at that level. She also said that Clark played five seasons in college, while she only played four, averaging 22.7 shots per game, while Swoopes suggested it was more like 40 per game.

Swoopes admitted she said “the wrong things” during her Spaces chat.

Sheryl Swoopes speaks

Sheryl Swoopes speaks at the Earl Lloyd Sports Legacy Symposium on Monday, January 20, 2020 at the FedEx Forum in downtown Memphis. (IMAGE)

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“I don’t owe any of you an apology,” Swoopes said at the event, attended by Fox News Digital. “I reached out to Caitlin. We had a great conversation.”

Fox News’ Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.

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