Bill Maher believes Caitlin Clark’s sexuality and race have played a big role in the way her fellow WNBA players have treated her since joining the league earlier this year.
During Friday’s episode of “Real Time with Bill Maher,” the political commentator, 68, lambasted Clark’s opponents — and her own teammates — for seemingly drawing a target on her back despite her positive impact on the WNBA.
“Women’s basketball got on my radar — like everybody’s — because of Caitlin Clark,” he explained. “And the other girls and the league are delighted for her success. … I’m joking of course. They f—king hate her.”
Ben Affleck visits Jennifer Lopez for 4 hours at $60M marital home they're reportedly selling
Julianne Hough poses without bikini top on vacation yacht: 'Mermaid dreams'
Jennifer Lopez looked 'happy' with 'broody' Ben Affleck at dinner amid divorce rumors, Justin Sylvester says
Maher brought up the controversial moment Chicago Sky star Chennedy Carter hip-checked Clark during an inbound play earlier this month as an example.
The comedian claimed there is an undeniable “racial element” to how the Indiana Fever rookie has been treated.
“It’s not always racism when a white person succeeds,” he argued against claims Clark, 22, is only popular because she is Caucasian.
However, his guest, Matt Welch, argued that the athlete’s physical play cannot automatically be deemed racially charged given the same thought process.
“It’s also not always racism when black people hip-check them either,” he gently countered. “Both are at play. I think it’s natural for a mega-star to come in and people say, ‘I’m kind of tired of hearing about it.'”
Despite Welch’s suggestion, Maher blamed Clark’s treatment on jealousy, racism and her sexual orientation.
“Women are catty. The league is very lesbian and she’s not, and there’s race,” he said. “There’s a lot going on.”
Earlier in the episode, Maher specifically called out Clark’s teammates for not defending her more, which he claimed would not be an issue in the NBA.
“See, if this was men, they’d defend each other on their same team,” he said. “I mean, men will fight from two teams, but when somebody checks you on who’s on your team, you defend that guy.”
While Maher admitted men “have their bad parts” and can be “toxic,” he argued they would never turn on their teammates.
“Women are catty,” he reiterated. “Even the ones on your own team.”
Last week, ESPN host Pat McAfee also touched on claims that Clark’s race has played a role in her success, arguing she is responsible for the league’s rise in popularity based on talent alone.
However, his support for Clark was overshadowed based on his poor word choice, referring to the young athlete as a “white bitch.”
“What the WNBA currently has is what we like to describe as a cash cow; there is a superstar,” he said.
“I would like the media people that continue to say, ‘This rookie class, this rookie class, this rookie class.’ Nah, just call it for what it is — there’s one white bitch for the Indiana team who is a superstar,” he said while pointing to a photo of Clark.
Amid backlash online, McAfee apologized and admitted he “shouldn’t have used ‘white bitch’ as a descriptor” of Clark.
“No matter the context.. even if we’re talking about race being a reason for some of the stuff happening.. I have way too much respect for her and women to put that into the universe,” he wrote on X.
