Rapinoe Comments On Clark Debate
Retired soccer star Megan Rapinoe has once again entered the spotlight, this time addressing racial tensions brewing within the WNBA. On a recent episode of the podcast she shares with partner and retired WNBA legend Sue Bird, Rapinoe voiced strong criticism over a recent controversy involving USA Today columnist Christine Brennan and WNBA player DiJonai Carrington. Rapinoe’s remarks add fuel to an ongoing debate about race, media bias, and the portrayal of athletes in professional sports.
The controversy stems from an eye-poking incident during a WNBA playoff game last month, where Carrington, a Connecticut Sun guard, accidentally poked Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark in the eye. Brennan's questioning of whether the poke was intentional has drawn significant backlash, including from Rapinoe, who found the line of inquiry racially charged. “That doesn’t feel good. That feels racist, to be honest,” Rapinoe told Bird, referring to Brennan’s question about the incident.
Carrington, who denied the poke was intentional, faced further scrutiny when cameras captured her laughing with teammates later in the game. Although Carrington took Brennan's questions in stride, the WNBA players' union (WNBPA) issued a harsh statement accusing Brennan of fueling a harmful narrative designed to provoke racist and misogynistic reactions on social media.
The WNBPA's response was met with mixed reactions, with some members of the media, including both liberal and conservative commentators, defending Brennan, a veteran sportswriter. USA Today also defended the integrity of Brennan’s interview, stating that it was simply an attempt to gather the player's perspective.
Rapinoe’s criticism centers on what she perceives as an instinct to protect white athletes like Clark while unfairly vilifying Black players like Carrington. She emphasized the difficulty of intentionally targeting an eye during a fast-paced game, dismissing the idea that Carrington aimed for Clark's eye. Bird echoed Rapinoe's sentiment, questioning the very premise of Brennan’s inquiry.
The incident has sparked broader debates about race in the WNBA, particularly as the league continues to break records for both attendance and viewership. The rivalry between Clark, who is white, and fellow rookie Angel Reese, who is Black, has been a major focus of fan and media attention this season. While some fans have praised the competition, others have taken it as an opportunity to voice racially charged criticisms.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has likened the rivalry to that of NBA legends Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, a comparison Rapinoe firmly rejects. “She basically implied that the racial tension is good for business,” Rapinoe said, expressing her frustration with the league’s handling of these issues.
Rapinoe also pointed out that racial tensions have plagued the WNBA long before Clark’s arrival. She cited examples of Black players facing racist abuse in college, particularly the LSU team led by Reese and South Carolina’s defending champions. According to Rapinoe, the WNBA’s leadership, especially Engelbert, should have anticipated these problems and done more to address them. "I feel like [WNBA players] have been greatly failed by the league and by Cathy the Commissioner this year," Rapinoe said. "This isn’t new. This has been coming."
As the WNBA’s most successful regular season transitions into the playoffs, the league faces the risk of these controversies overshadowing the sport. While Clark herself has denounced the racist abuse targeting her fellow players, the issue persists, fueled by an outspoken faction of online trolls. Both Rapinoe and Bird stressed that the issue is not with all fans, but with a small but vocal group pushing racist and divisive narratives under the guise of fandom.