Sports analyst Stephen A. Smith criticized former NFL linebacker Emmanuel Acho for his viral comments about the WNBA being better without Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark.
In a YouTube livestream of “Speakeasy” on June 28, Acho labeled Clark as a “distraction,” and said the league doesn’t need her.
“The W, at this junction in time, would be better without Caitlin Clark, because she is a bigger distraction than she is an additive,” Acho said. “Caitlin Clark has gotten the WNBA over the necessary threshold they needed. … Caitlin got the necessary eyes there. But now that the eyes are there, we don’t necessarily need her anymore.”
Acho’s comments went viral and have been much talked about since. In Friday’s episode of his show, Smith said Acho’s remarks were “absolutely, positively insane.”
“I respect that man,” Smith said. “I just think he’s insane with this particular take. Ain’t no way in hell there’s a shred of accuracy or sense to what he just said. Caitlin Clark is the cash cow. I don’t care what numbers you see the WNBA making, they’re nothing compared to the numbers Caitlin Clark generates for the WNBA.”
Smith argued that Clark’s stardom had influenced several positive changes in the league, including the move to charter flights. The WNBA instituted a “full league-wide charter program” before the 2024 season. In the past, players utilized commercial flights for their road games, which had risks of security, delay and more physical toll.
Like most people, Smith also attributed the increased WNBA salaries to Clark. Player benefits and compensation had significantly increased in the new collective bargaining agreement.
Stephen A. Smith acknowledges several WNBA legends in his defense of Caitlin Clark
In his lengthy rant about Emmanuel Acho’s viral comments, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith defended the impact of Caitlin Clark in the WNBA.
In the same episode of “The Stephen A. Smith Show” on Friday, the sports analyst gave credit to former WNBA superstars and said Clark’s impact is undeniable.
“Caitlin Clark did not build the WNBA,” Smith said (Timestamp: 3:37). “The WNBA was built on the backs of many people who came before Caitlin Clark, most of them being sisters, meaning Black ladies. The Cynthia Coopers, the Sheryl Swoopes of the world, the Lisa Leslies of the world. The Maya Moores of the world. List goes on and on.
“You’ve got a lot of sisters that’s involved in the WNBA for years, that made the WNBA what it was. … But the money, the bag, the ratings, the collective bargaining agreement that was just signed, all of that came after Caitlin Clark arrived.”
Smith also mentioned Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird, as well as four-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson and New York Liberty stars Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu.
Smith ended his rant by saying that when Clark leaves the WNBA, there will be a massive financial impact for the entirety of the league. He claimed that the move will also influence attendance numbers and television ratings, which recently reached new benchmarks.
Edited by Kim Daniel Rubinos
