Surely, you've heard by now about Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham's opinion that transgender athletes should not be allowed to participate in women's sports. The ESPN profile published on July 21, sparking a firestorm around the Fever, including "Support Sophie Cunningham" rallies at games in Seattle, Portland, and Minnesota. Cunningham started it, but people wanted Fever All-Star guard Caitlin Clark to answer for it. People always want to hear from Caitlin Clark.
Throughout last week's chaos, Clark did not meet with from the media until the postgame press conference following the Fever's loss to the Minnesota Lynx last Sunday, Aug. 2. The first question probed how Clark and her teammates navigated the aftermath of Cunningham's comments.
"I think, for us, it's not really a discussion we really have in our locker room," Clark said. "I think it's for leagues and the governing bodies to work with their athletes to find solutions, but our focus is on basketball. That's what we talk about and how we can get wins, and, obviously, we didn't do that tonight."
Clark's response was ripped by conservative media, underscoring the arduous position Clark occupies. Speak up, and she's wrong. Stay silent, and she's wrong. And now, Clark is addressing the intense scrutiny she faces for how she chooses to use her platform — and the mounting pressure to use her voice the way other people see fit.
"I think, first and foremost, you speak when you feel like you want to speak," Clark said during her media availability before the Fever took on the Las Vegas Aces at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Thursday, Aug. 6. "I think, for myself, I've been in this position for, what? Five years now? Four years? I think I have a good feel of what's gonna be asked, what's not gonna be asked, how to approach each situation, and I try to show up and just be myself every single day."
#clark #cunningham
Throughout last week's chaos, Clark did not meet with from the media until the postgame press conference following the Fever's loss to the Minnesota Lynx last Sunday, Aug. 2. The first question probed how Clark and her teammates navigated the aftermath of Cunningham's comments.
"I think, for us, it's not really a discussion we really have in our locker room," Clark said. "I think it's for leagues and the governing bodies to work with their athletes to find solutions, but our focus is on basketball. That's what we talk about and how we can get wins, and, obviously, we didn't do that tonight."
Clark's response was ripped by conservative media, underscoring the arduous position Clark occupies. Speak up, and she's wrong. Stay silent, and she's wrong. And now, Clark is addressing the intense scrutiny she faces for how she chooses to use her platform — and the mounting pressure to use her voice the way other people see fit.
"I think, first and foremost, you speak when you feel like you want to speak," Clark said during her media availability before the Fever took on the Las Vegas Aces at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Thursday, Aug. 6. "I think, for myself, I've been in this position for, what? Five years now? Four years? I think I have a good feel of what's gonna be asked, what's not gonna be asked, how to approach each situation, and I try to show up and just be myself every single day."
#clark #cunningham
3 months ago
