\n<\/p>\n
When discussing Indiana Fever players Caitlin Clark, Sophie Cunningham, and the WNBA, Charles Barkley didn\u2019t hold back.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cThose girls do not like Caitlin Clark or Sophie Cunningham,\u201d Barkley remarked, referring to the opinions of other WNBA players regarding two of the most well-liked players in the league. However, Barkley did not believe that race was the only factor.<\/p>\n Barkley continued, \u201cWithout regard for race, they just don\u2019t like them.\u201d<\/p>\n Barkley said those things on \u201cThe Michael Smerconish Program\u201d as the two talked about the WNBA\u2019s \u201cawful year.\u201d DiJonai Carrington\u2019s Flagrant 2 foul on Cunningham during the Fever vs. Chicago Sky game on August 8 was one among the events the two discussed.<\/p>\n Cunningham was trying to make a fast-break layup when Carrington struck him viciously in the head. After the contact, Cunningham\u2019s mouth was covered in blood. After reviewing the action, the referees increased the call from a Flagrant 1 to a Flagrant 2 and dismissed Carrington.<\/p>\n Carrington referenced the Fever in a social media post titled \u201cWHITE PRIVILEGE\u201d shortly after she was ejected. She later clarified that she never asserted that white privilege was the cause of the Flagrant 2, but she did not provide an explanation for the post.<\/p>\n Cunningham described the foul as \u201cunnecessary,\u201d claimed to have \u201cno beef\u201d with Carrington, and later described it as deliberate, accusing Carrington of trying to get attention.<\/p>\n According to Smerconish, he sought information on whether harsh fouls between Black and White WNBA players happen more frequently than they ought to. He claimed to have discovered a peer-reviewed study indicating that they occur at the expected rate, which prompted him to contend that the media is responsible for turning those occurrences into racial problems.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, no, you\u2019re wrong, though,\u201d Barkley commented. \u201cThe reason they made it black and white [was] when that girl tweeted \u2018white privilege.\u2019 That was stupid on her part.\u201d<\/p>\n Barkley referred to it as \u201ca dirty play. Period.\u201d He said that it became a racial dispute because of Carrington\u2019s post.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you turn stuff to the internet, all the race hustlers start coming out. We have a ton of race hustlers out there, White and Black. Let me repeat that. White and Black,\u201d Barkley added.<\/p>\n Smerconish then mentioned Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, whose rivalry had clear racial overtones but contributed to the NBA\u2019s rise to national prominence. Barkley acknowledged the presence of those undertones. The distinction, he claimed, was that Johnson and Bird respected one another.<\/p>\n \u201cThere was always respect,\u201d Barkley stated, then emphasized his point by repeating himself. \u201cThere was always respect.\u201d<\/p>\n Neither Carrington nor any other WNBA player was accused of racism by Barkley. He did, however, provide his own explanation for the animosity toward Cunningham and Clark.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not gonna get on here and call somebody a racist because I don\u2019t have any proof,\u201d Barkley stated. \u201cWhether it\u2019s race, sexuality, or whatever, there\u2019s something going on there.\u201d<\/p>\n He noted that although Clark and Cunningham are just good athletes, he thinks there are a number of reasons why people feel resentful of them.<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s just a really good basketball player. Same thing with Sophie. She\u2019s a good player,\u201d Barkley remarked. \u201cI think it has something to do with sexuality, race, and jealousy. I think it\u2019s all three of them. I don\u2019t know how you break up the percentages.\u201d<\/p>\n Barkley stated that he thinks the WNBA has a lot going for it, which is why he is bothered by the league\u2019s negative publicity. The WNBA has youthful talents who need to be spearheading the discourse, the league is growing, and players are earning more money under a new CBA.<\/p>\n Rather, Barkley claimed that the WNBA is constantly embroiled in debates, social media posts, and hard fouls that have nothing to do with basketball.<\/p>\n Using the adage that \u201cbad publicity doesn\u2019t exist,\u201d Smerconish suggested the WNBA might profit from the attention. Barkley disagreed.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think it works like that anymore, Michael,\u201d Barkley believed. \u201cWhen\u2019s the last time you heard something positive about the WNBA? I can\u2019t even remember.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n