By admin 
Whenever a professional athlete develops a “cult” fanbase, it seems almost impossible for them to control it. And there is no denying that, even though Caitlin Clark has not reached her MVP or NBA championship-winning ceiling, her fan following is already the largest in the WNBA.
Read more Texans in Trouble Before Week 2: How Can They Fix it?
Whenever things have not gone CC’s way, her fans have pushed back aggressively and have directed their frustration towards other players, coaches, or league directors. And American journalist Cari Champion has grown tired of seeing that trend. In fact, the 51-year-old television personality believes the Clark “cult” is becoming one of the biggest problems in the women’s basketball landscape.
In her recent interview with Bakari Sellers, Cari expressed her disdain after repeatedly witnessing how every individual who dares to stand against Caitlin turns into a villain overnight.
“She’s an Avatar for middle America, white people who want to see white women doing well and playing in a sport that is traditionally black. She’s a heterosexual white woman. She is Catholic. All the things that she is, they’re like, ‘I can relate to this. I can get behind her,'” Champion
. “They look the other way when this fan base behaves like MAGA. They look the other way when this fan base is wholly inappropriate to other players who are just doing their jobs.”
Champion wants the WNBA to handle the Clark “cult” better
Ever since Clark has made her way into the WNBA, there have been several instances that justify Champion’s viewpoint.
Whether it was rookie Caitlin not being selected for the 2024 US women’s team for the Paris Olympics, an opponent making an unintentional hard play against her on the court, or Fever coach Stephanie White getting involved in a heated exchange with CC, the surrounding reaction often extends beyond basketball.
Put simply, in Cari’s eyes, others face disproportionate personal criticism simply for finding themselves on the wrong side of a moment involving Caitlin.
Additionally, while Champion acknowledges that Clark’s enormous popularity has helped elevate the WNBA’s profile and visibility, she urged the league to address more aggressive behavior from portions of CC’s fanbase rather than allowing those supporters to shape the league’s conversation.
Read more Mississippi State vs South Carolina Prediction: Who’s Ready To Be An SEC Player?
“I think they’re mishandling Caitlin in a time that is so polarizing. You have a league of women, 70 percent black women, and you’re putting your supernova,” Champion continued. “You’re coddling her, and you’re ignoring this extremely nasty base.”
Related: “One of us forgot our t-ts at home” – Sophie Cunningham’s reaction after posing for a photo with Sydney Sweeney
CC has always tried to keep her foot down
In the defense of the Indiana Fever guard, Caitlin herself has generally attempted to avoid feeding many of the narratives surrounding her rivalries and controversies.
Whether it was criticizing Fever fans for booing coach White or expressing her anger at a reporter for trying to pit her against a World Cup-winning teammate, Angel Reese, “Ponytail Pete” has always tried to either push back or not add to any unwarranted controversy.
That does not necessarily mean every member of her fanbase will follow her lead, and that’s one of the realities of professional sports.
Once an athlete develops a massive following, they cannot fully control how their supporters react to criticism, defeats, rivalries, and controversial moments. The athlete can respond however they like, but fans tend to get emotional and create conversation of their own.
Related: “I bet he’s a little bit more fun off the court” – Sophie Cunningham compares Caitlin Clark’s personality to Larry Bird’s
Read more Mystics cruise past Sky in first game since World Cup break
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published September 18, 2026 at 12:11 AM.