If you’ve turned on a television or scrolled through social media at any point in the last two years, you’ve seen it. The loud, high-energy back-and-forth between Stephen A. Smith and pretty much anyone with a microphone regarding Caitlin Clark. It’s been more than just basketball. Honestly, it’s been a full-blown cultural phenomenon that’s felt less like sports analysis and more like a referendum on the WNBA’s soul.
People love to take sides here. You've got the crowd that thinks Stephen A. is just "chasing clicks," and then you have the folks who believe he’s the only one willing to say the quiet parts out loud. But if we’re being real, the relationship between Stephen A. Smith and Caitlin Clark isn’t about a personal friendship or a beef. It’s about the collision of an old-school media titan and a new-school gravitational force that changed the math of women's sports overnight.
The First Take Heat: When Monica McNutt Changed the Conversation
We have to go back to that specific morning on First Take in June 2024. This was the moment the tension surrounding the "Caitlin Clark effect" moved from the court to the studio in a way we hadn't seen before. Stephen A. Smith was doing his usual thing—lamenting how the WNBA was handling Clark’s arrival and the physical "welcome to the league" treatment she was getting from veterans.
Then came Monica McNutt.
She looked him dead in the eye and basically told him he was late to the party. McNutt pointed out that if he and other major media personalities had been giving the WNBA this much airtime for the last decade, the league wouldn't be in a position where one rookie had to carry the entire marketing load. It was one of those rare moments where Stephen A. actually went quiet. Well, for about three seconds.
The fallout from that segment lasted weeks. It highlighted a massive divide:
- The "Traditionalists" who felt Clark was being unfairly targeted by jealous veterans.
- The "Vets" who felt Clark was being used as a tool to ignore the hard work of women who built the league.
- The "Media Critics" who blamed the 24-hour news cycle for turning a basketball season into a soap opera.
Stephen A. Smith later clarified his stance, emphasizing that he wasn't trying to diminish the players who came before. But he kept coming back to one phrase: "Box Office." To him, Caitlin Clark wasn't just another player. She was the "Golden Goose."
Breaking Down the "Golden Goose" Argument
Stephen A. Smith has spent a lot of time defending Caitlin Clark’s impact on the bottom line. He’s been vocal about the fact that arenas were selling out because of her. He pointed out—loudly—that the Indiana Fever went from a struggling franchise to the center of the basketball universe.
He didn't just talk about her logo threes. He talked about the money. In early 2025, Smith doubled down on his criticism of WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, even going as far as suggesting she should resign over how the league managed the narrative around Clark and other stars like Napheesa Collier.
"Cathy Engelbert, the commissioner of the league... Let me say for the record: You should resign." — Stephen A. Smith, October 2024.
He was furious because he felt the league wasn't "protecting its investment." In Stephen A.'s world, you don't treat your biggest star like just another rookie. You build the whole house around her. This stance put him at odds with a lot of WNBA fans who felt the league was finally getting the respect it deserved as a whole, not just because of one girl from Iowa.
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The Race, Gender, and Narrative Trap
You can't talk about Stephen A. Smith and Caitlin Clark without talking about the uncomfortable stuff. Race. Gender. Marketability. Smith has navigated this like a tightrope walker over a pit of fire. He’s had to balance his support for Black women in the league—the players who have been the backbone of the WNBA for 25 years—with his recognition that Clark brought in a massive, predominantly white audience that hadn't watched before.
On his podcast and on ESPN, Smith has been quick to call out "no good ass people" who use Clark as a weapon for racism. He’s warned fans in Indianapolis and beyond that they need to "safeguard themselves" from developing a reputation for toxicity.
It’s a weird spot for him. He’s a guy who built his career on being the ultimate "basketball guy," but the Caitlin Clark story forced him to become a social commentator in a way that felt different from his usual NBA takes. He’s defended her against "bullies" like Sheryl Swoopes, calling Swoopes' dismissal of Clark's records "immature."
Why 2026 is the True Test for the Smith-Clark Saga
As we move through 2026, the noise hasn't died down. It’s actually gotten more complicated. Clark isn't a rookie anymore. She’s an established superstar with "leverage," as Smith often says.
The conversation has shifted from "Is she good enough?" to "Who really owns the WNBA's future?" Smith has been beating the drum that Clark is "done with the league" in terms of needing their approval. He sees her as an independent entity that the WNBA happens to benefit from.
We’ve seen him react to every major milestone:
- The Rookie Records: 769 points, 337 assists, and the first rookie triple-double in history.
- The All-Star Snubs: Smith’s absolute meltdown when she was initially left off the Olympic roster.
- The Leadership Stance: When Clark backed Napheesa Collier’s criticisms of the league, Smith hailed it as a "Golden Goose" move that the league couldn't ignore.
Actionable Takeaways: How to Watch the Narrative
If you're trying to keep up with the Stephen A. Smith and Caitlin Clark discourse without losing your mind, here is how you should actually look at it.
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Look at the numbers, not just the shouting.
When Stephen A. says she's "Box Office," he's backed by the 700,000+ All-Star votes she received in 2024 and the record-breaking TV ratings. If you want to understand his perspective, follow the revenue.
Understand the "Two-Thing" Rule.
It is possible for two things to be true at once: Caitlin Clark can be a generational talent that changed the league's economics, AND the WNBA was already on an upward trajectory with incredible athletes who deserved more coverage years ago. Smith usually focuses on the former, while his critics focus on the latter.
Watch for the 2026 Shift.
The narrative is moving toward "Player Power." Watch how Smith discusses Clark’s contract negotiations and her off-court deals (like the $16 million+ in endorsements). This isn't about points per game anymore; it's about who controls the business of women's basketball.
Filter the "Bully" Narrative.
Be careful with the word "bully" that gets tossed around in these segments. Often, what Smith calls "bullying" is just high-level competition or veteran hazing that happens in the NBA too. However, the intensity of the scrutiny on Clark is undeniably different.
The reality is that Stephen A. Smith and Caitlin Clark are stuck with each other. He needs her for the ratings she brings to his show, and in a weird way, his constant defense of her keeps her in the mainstream conversation even during the off-season. It’s a symbiotic relationship built on high-volume takes and deep-range three-pointers.
Keep an eye on the upcoming CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) discussions. That will be the next time Stephen A. Smith goes on a legendary rant about how the league should be paying Caitlin Clark—and by extension, the rest of the stars—what they are actually worth to the bottom line.
To stay ahead of the curve, monitor the TV viewership numbers for the Fever compared to the rest of the league this season. That data is the "ammunition" Smith uses for every segment he produces. If the gap narrows, his argument changes. If it widens, expect him to get even louder about "The Golden Goose."