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Former ESPN personality Ryan Clark has drawn criticism for recent comments made on his podcast directed at WNBA players, specifically regarding their prominence in sports media coverage. Clark, who departed ESPN last month alongside numerous other on-air personalities including Cam Newton and Karl Ravech, has resumed broadcasting on his “Pivot” podcast platform and used it to target players he believes receive disproportionate attention.
In a social media post Tuesday, Clark argued that lower-scoring players dominate network coverage while the league’s top performers and teams receive less focus. He specifically criticized players averaging under 10 points per game who engage in discussions outside basketball, though he did not name individuals directly in his remarks.
The comments appear directed at Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, who recently gained prominence after making public statements about locker room safety and appropriate conduct. Cunningham has become a polarizing figure in sports media conversations following her viral moments last summer and recent interactions with ESPN.
Cunningham delivered one of her season-best performances Wednesday night, scoring 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting, including three successful three-pointers, in 22 minutes of play. She recorded the game’s highest plus-minus rating at plus-17 as Indiana secured another victory, while teammate Kelsey Mitchell led all scorers with 28 points.
The guard currently ranks second in the WNBA in three-point shooting percentage at 45.5 percent, statistics that underscore her offensive contributions to her team’s roster.
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