Cari Champion Angers Caitlin Clark Fans With 'Blatant Favoritism' Accusation

Cari Champion sounded off on the treatment Caitlin Clark receives from the WNBA this week. Clark's fans are not happy.

The former ESPN host ripped the WNBA for giving Clark "special treatment" during a recent episode of her podcast with Jemele Hill.

"That type of blatant favoritism annoys the (expletive) out of me," Champion said Wednesday on her Flagrant & Funny podcast.

"I don't know if this is her fault, because I think it might be unfair for me to say that this is her fault. But at the same time, it's like, why is she getting this special treatment? And it just is, yet again, another example of the league and its fans… being so precious with her."

Champion believes that the WNBA is mishandling Clark in many ways.

"The more we get to catch these glimpses of Caitlin Clark, I'm like, ‘I don't like you. I don't like the way you behave on the court,'" Champion said, per Awful Announcing.

"And the league is positioning you to be its superstar because you are, and with leadership comes certain responsibility. And if you don't want that responsibility, I understand that. But the way that you behave, this entitlement, the way you are talking to your coaches… you enjoy that. So if that's what you enjoy, if you want to be the villain, if you want to be the tough person … then let it be. Because we're coming at you the same way we could come at anyone else. And her fans need to recognize that. Like, she chooses that behavior."

Champion is not winning over any Caitlin Clark fans with her criticism. In fact, she's just made them angrier.

Clark's fan base - arguably the biggest and most passionate in the WNBA, or women's sports in general - is ripping Champion for her critical comments.

Caitlin Clark fans sound off on Champion

Clark's fans are not happy with Champion. They very much disagree that Clark gets special treatment, too.

"I think Champion selectively forgets CC has been near the top of the league in technical fouls received as well as cheap shots taken in her short career," one fan pointed out.

"Champion must not have watched the last 2 years if she CC gets favorable calls," one fan added.

"Another jealous so called sports expert why can't all these wannabes. Just leave cc alone and let do what she does best just let her play the best basketball in the league," one fan added.

"Michael Jordan had the same policy by the NBA. Did she say anything about that. I was in Chicago those years. It was great. Touch him and he gets free throws. Act like you touch him and he gets free throws," one fan added.

Champion is standing by her takes, of course, but Clark's fan base is not happy.

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This story was originally published May 28, 2026 at 5:30 PM.