Sheryl Swoopes can't resist taking jabs at Caitlin Clark even during praise

The Indiana Fever are coming off a historic season where Caitlin Clark completely changed the WNBA. She broke records, made spectacular plays, and brought millions of fans with her. Clark helped the Fever become the league’s most popular franchise. She finished first-team All-WNBA and was the first rookie since 2008 to earn that distinction. The 22-year-old was outstanding.

Nobody expected Clark to be this good immediately. She broke the NCAA’s all-time scoring record, but jumping into the professional game is difficult. Clark quickly became one of the best playmakers in the W, and the entire experience was unforgettable.

The Fever’s superstar has earned praise and helped grow the entire sport, but not everyone is on the bandwagon. Hall of Famer Sheryl Swoopes is not a massive fan, but she wasn’t the one who kept Clark from unanimous Rookie of the Year. The legend even offered the rookie praise recently, but it did not go as fans think.

Sheryl Swoopes can't resist taking jabs at Caitlin Clark even during praise

Swoopes discussed the Rookie of the Year race on her “Levels to This” podcast. The show is produced by iHeartPodcasts, as part of the company's new Women's Sports Audio Network. The legend did praise Clark, but it took multiple other names before she got there.

“I'll also say this, if Rickea Jackson had gotten more playing time at the beginning of the season, Rickea Jackson would be in this conversation, but I digress. I thought at one point, Angel Reese had my Rookie of the Year vote because she set the double-double record, and for a rookie, that is impressive...After the Olympic break, Caitlin Clark got some rest...She came back and completely separated herself from all other rookies in the league. So congratulations to Caitlin. You all can't get mad at me. I don't get votes, so it wasn't me.”

Swoopes' inability to credit Clark’s incredible and historic season with mentioning other players is wild. Jackson and Reese are exceptional talents with massive ceilings, but they were significantly worse than the Fever’s star as rookies. It is fine to just praise Clark’s dominance without bringing up every great player in the W.

Fans can listen to the entire podcast below where Swoopes talks about Clark and goes in-depth on the Sky’s decision to fire head coach Teresa Weatherspoon.

Clark is the best player in her draft class and one of the top talents in the league. She helped the Fever snap a seven-year playoff drought as a rookie, but can Indiana put enough talent around to make the franchise a serious title contender? That is the goal, but it won’t be easy.

Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever had a historic and unforgettable season. The team formed a tight bond and fought through adversity to make the playoffs. They did not get the desired result, but it was a positive first step.

No matter what Sheryl Swoopes thinks, Clark is already elite and still has significant room to grow. The rest of the W should watch out because Clark is coming and could arrive as a perennial MVP favorite for years to come. The Fever are building something special, so stay tuned to see how it all shakes out.