Sports
WNBA - English
Caitlin Clark found herself underfire at the 33rd ESPY Awards as Shane Gillis delivered an opening monologue that quickly sparked debate across the sports world by targeting the Indiana Fever star.
The comedian, known for pushing boundaries, he used his time on stage to mock numerous public figures but it was his remarks about Clark stood out in front of a packed Dolby Theatre audience.
The 37-year-old Gillis compared himself to the 23-year-old guard by saying they were alike because they are “both whites from the Midwest who have nailed a bunch of 3s.”
The line drew hesitant laughs. He followed with a more inflammatory punchline of, “When Caitlin Clark retires from the WNBA, she’s going to work at a Waffle House so she can continue doing what she loves most, fist fighting black women.”
Clark, whose transition from NCAA stardom to the WNBA has been under intense scrutiny, has become one of the most recognizable athletes in women’s sports with massive fanfare surrounding her.
Her presence has significantly boosted attendance and viewership across the league and he controversial nature of Gillis’ joke has thus intensified public discourse around how media and entertainers treat women athletes.
The comedian’s attempt at humor came at a sensitive time for the sport, as Clark has recently been at the center of numerous media debates regarding her treatment on the court, her role in the WNBA‘s popularity surge, and whether she receives undue criticism or protection.
Critics of the monologue argue that Gillis’ joke crossed the line into racial and gender insensitivity, the former also being a big talking point by black women who feel they have been undervalued.
One WNBA analyst noted, “When a young athlete is constantly under the spotlight, commentary like this-especially when it leans on tired stereotypes-only adds to the pressure.”
Additionally, social media lit up following the broadcast, with some defending the comic’s right to free expression, while others called his comments tasteless and harmful.
From rival players’ hard fouls to media commentary that overemphasizes her race or fanbase, the Fever’s talented player has become a lightning rod for broader cultural conversations.
Despite the backlash, Clark has not responded publicly to the ESPYs monologue, but this is not the first time she has faced controversy that had little to do with her performance.
Who else did Gillis mock at 2025 ESPY Awards?
Gillis, who stars in the Netflix series Tires, made headlines for a monologue that referenced everyone from Aaron Rodgers and Donald Trump to Shohei Ohtani as his ESPYs appearance was framed as a tribute to the late Norm Macdonald.
Macdonald, who hosted in 1998, was known for similarly provocative material yet still while some of Gillis’ jokes, like his take on Bill Belichick reading bedtime stories to his younger girlfriend, landed well with the crowd, others, including the Clark reference, earned audible jeers from the audience.
ESPN’s decision to select Gillis as host was itself a bold move, considering his past controversies and reputation for edgy humor, and with his monologue now making headlines, it’s clear the ESPYs will be remembered this year.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Fantasy football waiver wire pickups: NFL Week 6
Young tight ends are shining: A.J. Barner, Theo Johnson and Mason Taylor are three of the eight highest-scoring fantasy tight ends over the past two games, and all three are widely available. Another week of the 2025 NFL season is just about in the books. Here are the players you should be targeting in your fantasy football leagues, including options for smaller leagues and deeper leagues, as well as players to avoid. Jump to a position group: QB | RB | WR | TE QUARTERBACKS Jaxson Dart, New York Giants (Rostered in 44.1% of leagues on ESPN) League Size: 10 Time Frame: Short Term, Long Term While Sam Darnold and Tua Tagovailoa were the top-performing quarterbacks available on the waiver wire this week, we now have a five-game sample on both, and neither is averaging more than 17 fantasy points […]
NFL Week 5 Team of the Week: Rico Dowdle Fills In and Shines on Sunday
<!--> [--> Greg Auman NFL Reporter <!--> --> Each week, we’ll offer up the very best of the NFL for a given week, kind of like the fantasy football team you wished you had.We’ll pick one quarterback, two running backs, two receivers and a tight end – OK, this is sounding a lot like a super-hindsight fantasy football team – as a way to look back on the weekend that was.We have a familiar face that stood out at wide receiver, and another return performer at running back. Let's break it down.Pretty strong week for quarterbacks, with five guys throwing 3+ touchdowns without an interception. But the most compelling game was Mayfield, who finished 29-for-33 for 379 yards with two touchdowns, outdueling Seattle's Sam Darnold in a shootout in Seattle. Darnold led Seattle on five straight touchdown drives, including a […]
Why Baker Mayfield Should Be Early Frontrunner for 2025 NFL MVP Award
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are rolling, and Baker Mayfield has a legitimate case to be considered a frontrunner for the NFL MVP trophy.The Buccaneers improved to 4-1 after a thrilling shootout with the Seattle Seahawks in Week 5. Mayfield outdueled Sam Darnold in a clash of 2018 NFL Draft top five quarterbacks. Mayfield finished with a career day passing the football. He had 379 passing yards and two touchdowns on 29-of-33 passing. He also rushed the football five times for 15 yards. Since arriving in Tampa Bay, Mayfield has completely turned his career around. The Buccaneers needed a quarterback to pivot off of Tom Brady retiring. Just a few seasons later, it’s Mayfield that has the Buccaneers looking like a serious contender in the NFC. Before the season, Mayfield was +2500 to win MVP on FanDuel Sportsbook. In just five […]
Tensions rise in the WNBA as Napheesa Collier, Caitlin Clark, and Cathy Engelbert clash over leadership
The WNBA has seen its fair share of disputes, but recent tensions between star forward Napheesa Collier and Commissioner Cathy Engelbert may represent a pivotal moment in the league's evolution. Collier, Vice President of the WNBPA Executive Committee, didn't hold back in her postseason exit interview, accusing Engelbert of tone-deaf leadership and alleging behind-the-scenes comments that have ignited league-wide controversy.Engelbert's alleged "be grateful" remark sparks outrageCollier claimed Engelbert had said Caitlin Clark should be "grateful" for earning millions in endorsements, crediting the WNBA for giving her a platform. If true, the comment would suggest a dismissive view of Clark's individual marketability and a broader lack of appreciation for the athletes driving the league's current success. Engelbert has denied making such a statement, calling Collier's claims inaccurate in a press conference before the WNBA Finals.What followed has only deepened the divide. […]
Tigers-Mariners Game 2 takeaways: Polanco powers Seattle past Skubal, Detroit
SEATTLE – The Seattle Mariners had done the hard part in Game 2 of this American League Division Series, building a lead off Tarik Skubal and taking it into the late innings on Sunday night. But after fumbling away their edge with a critical error in the eighth, they wasted no time in wresting the game back to pull even with the Detroit Tigers.AdvertisementCal Raleigh and Julio Rodríguez came through in the bottom of the eighth inning to rescue the Mariners with a 3-2 victory before 47,371 raucous fans at T-Mobile Park. Facing Kyle Finnegan with one out, Raleigh, the slugging catcher, doubled into the right field corner. He scored when Rodríguez ripped a double of his own into the left field corner.Raleigh and Rodríguez had combined for all five Seattle hits in Game 1, when the Tigers escaped with […]
Tigers-Mariners Game 2 takeaways: Polanco powers Seattle past Skubal, Detroit
SEATTLE – The Seattle Mariners had done the hard part in Game 2 of this American League Division Series, building a lead off Tarik Skubal and taking it into the late innings on Sunday night. But after fumbling away their edge with a critical error in the eighth, they wasted no time in wresting the game back to pull even with the Detroit Tigers.AdvertisementCal Raleigh and Julio Rodríguez came through in the bottom of the eighth inning to rescue the Mariners with a 3-2 victory before 47,371 raucous fans at T-Mobile Park. Facing Kyle Finnegan with one out, Raleigh, the slugging catcher, doubled into the right field corner. He scored when Rodríguez ripped a double of his own into the left field corner.Raleigh and Rodríguez had combined for all five Seattle hits in Game 1, when the Tigers escaped with […]
Related
Fantasy football waiver wire pickups: NFL Week 6
Young tight ends are shining: A.J. Barner, Theo Johnson and Mason Taylor are three of the eight highest-scoring fantasy tight ends over the past two games, and all three are widely available. Another week of the 2025 NFL season is just about in the books. Here are the players you should be targeting in your fantasy football leagues, including options for smaller leagues and deeper leagues, as well as players to avoid. Jump to a position group: QB | RB | WR | TE QUARTERBACKS Jaxson Dart, New York Giants (Rostered in 44.1% of leagues on ESPN) League Size: 10 Time Frame: Short Term, Long Term While Sam Darnold and Tua Tagovailoa were the top-performing quarterbacks available on the waiver wire this week, we now have a five-game sample on both, and neither is averaging more than 17 fantasy points […]
NFL Week 5 Team of the Week: Rico Dowdle Fills In and Shines on Sunday
<!--> [--> Greg Auman NFL Reporter <!--> --> Each week, we’ll offer up the very best of the NFL for a given week, kind of like the fantasy football team you wished you had.We’ll pick one quarterback, two running backs, two receivers and a tight end – OK, this is sounding a lot like a super-hindsight fantasy football team – as a way to look back on the weekend that was.We have a familiar face that stood out at wide receiver, and another return performer at running back. Let's break it down.Pretty strong week for quarterbacks, with five guys throwing 3+ touchdowns without an interception. But the most compelling game was Mayfield, who finished 29-for-33 for 379 yards with two touchdowns, outdueling Seattle's Sam Darnold in a shootout in Seattle. Darnold led Seattle on five straight touchdown drives, including a […]
Why Baker Mayfield Should Be Early Frontrunner for 2025 NFL MVP Award
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are rolling, and Baker Mayfield has a legitimate case to be considered a frontrunner for the NFL MVP trophy.The Buccaneers improved to 4-1 after a thrilling shootout with the Seattle Seahawks in Week 5. Mayfield outdueled Sam Darnold in a clash of 2018 NFL Draft top five quarterbacks. Mayfield finished with a career day passing the football. He had 379 passing yards and two touchdowns on 29-of-33 passing. He also rushed the football five times for 15 yards. Since arriving in Tampa Bay, Mayfield has completely turned his career around. The Buccaneers needed a quarterback to pivot off of Tom Brady retiring. Just a few seasons later, it’s Mayfield that has the Buccaneers looking like a serious contender in the NFC. Before the season, Mayfield was +2500 to win MVP on FanDuel Sportsbook. In just five […]
Tensions rise in the WNBA as Napheesa Collier, Caitlin Clark, and Cathy Engelbert clash over leadership
The WNBA has seen its fair share of disputes, but recent tensions between star forward Napheesa Collier and Commissioner Cathy Engelbert may represent a pivotal moment in the league's evolution. Collier, Vice President of the WNBPA Executive Committee, didn't hold back in her postseason exit interview, accusing Engelbert of tone-deaf leadership and alleging behind-the-scenes comments that have ignited league-wide controversy.Engelbert's alleged "be grateful" remark sparks outrageCollier claimed Engelbert had said Caitlin Clark should be "grateful" for earning millions in endorsements, crediting the WNBA for giving her a platform. If true, the comment would suggest a dismissive view of Clark's individual marketability and a broader lack of appreciation for the athletes driving the league's current success. Engelbert has denied making such a statement, calling Collier's claims inaccurate in a press conference before the WNBA Finals.What followed has only deepened the divide. […]
Tigers-Mariners Game 2 takeaways: Polanco powers Seattle past Skubal, Detroit
SEATTLE – The Seattle Mariners had done the hard part in Game 2 of this American League Division Series, building a lead off Tarik Skubal and taking it into the late innings on Sunday night. But after fumbling away their edge with a critical error in the eighth, they wasted no time in wresting the game back to pull even with the Detroit Tigers.AdvertisementCal Raleigh and Julio Rodríguez came through in the bottom of the eighth inning to rescue the Mariners with a 3-2 victory before 47,371 raucous fans at T-Mobile Park. Facing Kyle Finnegan with one out, Raleigh, the slugging catcher, doubled into the right field corner. He scored when Rodríguez ripped a double of his own into the left field corner.Raleigh and Rodríguez had combined for all five Seattle hits in Game 1, when the Tigers escaped with […]
Tigers-Mariners Game 2 takeaways: Polanco powers Seattle past Skubal, Detroit
SEATTLE – The Seattle Mariners had done the hard part in Game 2 of this American League Division Series, building a lead off Tarik Skubal and taking it into the late innings on Sunday night. But after fumbling away their edge with a critical error in the eighth, they wasted no time in wresting the game back to pull even with the Detroit Tigers.AdvertisementCal Raleigh and Julio Rodríguez came through in the bottom of the eighth inning to rescue the Mariners with a 3-2 victory before 47,371 raucous fans at T-Mobile Park. Facing Kyle Finnegan with one out, Raleigh, the slugging catcher, doubled into the right field corner. He scored when Rodríguez ripped a double of his own into the left field corner.Raleigh and Rodríguez had combined for all five Seattle hits in Game 1, when the Tigers escaped with […]
Be the first to leave a comment