Stephen A. Smith weighs in on federal probe idea over Caitlin Clark treatment

Stephen A. Smith responded to a latest opinion piece of the Wall Avenue Journal during which a authorities investigation into the WNBA for the controversial dealing with of bodily performs in opposition to celebrity Caitlin Clark.

The Wall Street Journal piece With the title “The Wnba and Caitlin Clark’s Civil Rights” attracted blended reactions this week after it had argued that Clark was subjected to a hostile office due to what referees have talked about bodily performs in opposition to her relationship her Rookie season in 2024.

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Caitlin Clark of Indiana Fever is on the sofa after an obvious harm through the second half of a WNBA basketball match in opposition to the Connecticut Solar, Tuesday 15 July 2025, in Boston. (AP Picture/Michael Dwyer)

Smith advised help for a possible examination.

“I’m not right here that the case can be gained by the federal government in terms of the factors. I say they’ve a case, they’ve a struggle,” Smith stated concerning the thought throughout an episode of his present on Tuesday.

Smith additionally advised that President Donald Trump may use such an investigation to strengthen help together with his followers.

“Will we doubt that at his personal discretion, at his disposal, if he finds this a matter that’s politically acceptable, that Trump is not going to use this to feed his base?” Mentioned Smith. “If [Clark] is seen as bodily abused on the basketball court docket in a means that’s such a transparent and blatant discrepancy in comparison with what occurs to others, that That Man goes to say nothing?

“You do not suppose Catilin Clark may grow to be a matter of nationwide, probably worldwide and positively federal proportions?”

Smith talked about latest similarities of Columbia College and Harvard College with the federal government of Trump to rearrange alleged violations of civil rights in opposition to Jewish college students and workers as a comparability for a doable probe within the therapy of Clark by the Wnba.

“If the Trump administration can settle with Columbia for a settlement of $ 221 million about what has taken place on a campus, do you suppose you’ll be able to definitively exclude what sort of noise might be made if the WNBA continues to permit this therapy of Caitlin Clark?” Mentioned Smith.

Clark’s teammate, Sophie Cunningham fever star, is among the most vocal critics of the WNBA gamers and referees within the bodily therapy of Clark and the way it’s handled.

Who’s Sophie Cunningham? Caitlin Clark’s new ‘Bodyguard’ teammate

Diamond Dshields from the Chicago Sky is available in and is accused of a flagrant error in opposition to Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever in Wintrust Enviornment on 30 August 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Michael Hickey/Getty Pictures)

Cunningam revealed how her former crew, the Phoenix MercuryDeliberate to play Clark through the Rookie season of the phenomenon in 2024. Cunningham performed her first 5 seasons in Phoenix earlier than he left to take part within the fever this previous out of season.

“Je hebt spelers in onze competitie zien proberen, zoals, Caitlin op te wekken … Zelfs als ik niet in haar crew zat, ken ik de gesprekken die Phoenix in de kleedkamer had, zoals:” Nee, we gaan haar laten zien wat de W echt is, ‘en ik krijg het tot op zekere hoogte, en elke rookie die de competitie in de competitie komt, maar er is gewoon meer om te behandelen, maar er is gewoon meer om te behandelen, maar er is hoe je er meer is, however there may be how you might be there, however there may be how you might be there, ‘Cunningham said on her podcasT final week.

“And now sit in her crew and see it, I’ve one thing like:” What do individuals do? ” Truly it’s simply an excessive amount of.

Cunningham was on the opposite facet of the state of affairs when she began a struggle to defend Clark throughout a match in opposition to the Connecticut Solar earlier this season. Cunningham stated Clark after the sport “Lastly!” Within the dressing room.

“She goes within the dressing room, I believe she’s:” Lastly! “Mentioned Cunningham. “However I believe it had our crew as a complete collectively. Everybody stated,” Now we have to guard one another. “

The battle fell in Connecticut on June 17, when Cunningham dedicated a tough mistake on Solar Guard Jiay Sheldon. Sheldon Sticked Clark Earlier within the sport, after which colleague Solar Participant Marina Mabrey Clark pushed on the bottom.

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Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever reacts after a flagrant error dedicated by Diamond Desshields #0 of the Chicago Sky in Wintrust Enviornment on August 30, 2024 in Chicago, (Michael Hickey/Getty Pictures)

Cunningham beforehand shouted referees only some days after the struggle of 17 June whereas they spoke with reporters, as a result of she didn’t shield Clark when she needed to sort out the struggle for the primary time.

“Throughout that it was solely part of the sport. I believe the referees had loads to do with it. It was now a construction of them that they simply didn’t shield the star participant of the Wnba,” stated Cunningham. “On the finish of the day I’ll shield my teammates. That is what I do.”

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