In a recent twist, the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame has seemingly taken a light-hearted jab at WNBA icon Sheryl Swoopes by placing a poster of rising star Caitlin Clark directly beneath Swoopes’ own banner. This playful placement follows Swoopes’ critical remarks about Clark during her rookie season, where the Iowa native made an impressive debut with averages of 19.2 points, 8.4 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game. While Swoopes has been vocal in her skepticism of Clark’s achievements, the Hall of Fame’s gesture suggests a humorous recognition of Clark’s growing prominence in the league.
Swoopes, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016, previously made several dismissive comments about Clark’s collegiate success. She questioned the legitimacy of Clark’s NCAA scoring record, arguing that Clark’s age and experience gave her an unfair advantage. Specifically, Swoopes claimed that Clark’s accomplishments were inflated due to her being a “25-year-old player in her fifth year,” despite Clark actually being 22 and in her fourth year of college. Swoopes’ criticisms continued even as Clark transitioned into her professional career with the Indiana Fever, where she became a fan favorite and a key player in the team’s resurgence after the Olympics.
Despite these tensions, it appears that Swoopes is beginning to soften her stance on Clark. Recently, during a podcast interview, she acknowledged Clark’s remarkable skills and impressive performance throughout the season. “What Caitlin was able to do coming into the league this season… she was just crazy,” Swoopes remarked,