Talk show host Bill Maher dismissed radio host Charlamagne tha God’s criticisms of Caitlin Clark’s rising popularity in the WNBA.
Clark, in her first season with the Indiana Fever, has been credited with boosting WNBA game attendance. Some fans, however, feel she has overshadowed 2023 NCAA champion Angel Reese, also a rookie this season. On Friday’s episode of Real Time with Bill Maher, Charlamagne expressed a desire for the attention on Clark to be shared with other players, like Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson.
“A’ja Wilson was the biggest thing when she came out of South Carolina,” Charlamagne said. “And she didn’t get all of that.”
“So what do you attribute that to?” Maher asked. “Are you saying that’s racism?”
“No, I’m not saying it’s racist,” Charlamagne replied. “I think sometimes when black women say certain things, we should listen, especially her because I’m not in her shoes.”
“But why was Serena Williams such a big star?” Maher countered. “People liked her. They didn’t not watch her because she was black, right?”
Charlamagne agreed and admitted uncertainty when asked, “Where are we with this?”
“I don’t know,” the radio host admitted.
Wilson, the WNBA’s leading scorer, will play for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Clark, the No. 1 WNBA draft pick this year, will not be competing on Team USA.
