Matt Barnes, former NBA player, has publicly defended Caitlin Clark, star of the Indiana Fever, following criticisms about her achievements, particularly from Washington Mystics owner Sheila Johnson. Johnson suggested that Clark’s recognition as Time Magazine’s Athlete of the Year might have been influenced by race and argued the WNBA as a whole deserved the honor. This sparked backlash from fans and athletes alike.
On his All the Smoke podcast, Barnes praised Clark’s transformative impact on the WNBA, referring to her as the league’s “golden goose.” He highlighted her ability to draw attention and revenue to the league, which he believes no other player has done at her level. While acknowledging other stars like A’ja Wilson, Barnes emphasized that Clark’s influence extends beyond her on-court performance, significantly elevating the visibility of women’s basketball.
Barnes called on critics to celebrate Clark’s contributions rather than downplay them, urging fans to embrace this “golden era” for the WNBA and recognize Clark as a pivotal figure in its growt
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