Charles Barkley criticizes WNBA media for negative coverage of Caitlin Clark

Amid the ongoing media battle within the WNBA surrounding Caitlin Clark, TNT analyst Charles Barkley sent out a fiery message shaming WNBA figures for the negative narratives they have knowingly spread this season.

Barkley, best known for his NBA analysis, doesn’t really have a say in the media coverage of the Indiana Fever rookie. However, as someone outside the NBA, Barkley doesn’t like what he sees.

“These ladies — and I’m a WNBA fan — they couldn’t have screwed up this Caitlin Clark thing any more if they tried,” Barkley said on The Bill Simmons Podcast Wednesday. “People believe what we say on television. Just because people don’t like you or your personality doesn’t mean they can go on television and slander you. That’s just bullshit.”

“This girl is incredible. She gets attention, she gets looks in college and in the pros, and these women have this petty jealousy. You’re like, ‘Oh my god, what’s going on here?’ And what I love about her is she never says a word. But these women, who I love and whose game I respect, couldn’t have ruined this story any worse. There’s been so much negativity.”

Barkley notably declined to name specific members of the media, but based on the WNBA’s recent viral rant, it’s safe to assume he’s referring to the simmering feud between WNBA icons Sheryl Swoopes and Nancy Lieberman.

Earlier this week, Lieberman discussed his fractured relationship with Swoopes that dates back to February, when Swoopes misstated some crucial facts about Clark, who was in his final season at Iowa. Swoopes incorrectly stated that Clark, who had just set the all-time Division I scoring record, had been granted an extra year of eligibility because of the pandemic.

“I called (Swoopes) as a friend and said, ‘You can say whatever you want, you can have your own opinion about anybody, but you have to have the right statistics.'” Lieberman said“Our relationship is not really there yet… My life will be good or great with or without Sheryl Swoopes.”

In response to growing criticism, Swoopes Shared screenshots of a conversation she had with Clark in which Swoopes admitted she “made a mistake” and congratulated Clark on his accomplishments.

While not officially members of the WNBA media, veteran Diana Taurasi and UConn coach Geno Auriemma have also made disparaging comments about Clark’s rookie season over the past year.

After a poor start to the season (0-5), Clark and the Fever clinched their first playoff spot since 2016, with seven games remaining in the regular season.