Podcast Hosts Criticize Caitlin Clark's ESPN Appearance, Citing Political Motivations
Left-leaning podcasters questioned Clark's decision to appear on "College GameDay" and her past statements on social issues, despite her record-breaking viewership.
Caitlin Clark's recent appearance on ESPN's "College GameDay" to promote her new Nike shoe has drawn criticism from hosts of "The Sports Gossip Show," a podcast that has previously targeted female athletes and their defenses of women's sports.
Clark's appearance on the Iowa-based broadcast on Saturday, October 26, 2024, coincided with "College GameDay" achieving its largest audience of the season and its biggest October viewership in the show's 40-year history. The final hour, featuring Clark, attracted 3.7 million viewers, contributing to an average of 2.9 million viewers for the episode.
Despite the record-breaking numbers, podcast hosts Charlotte Wilder and Madeline Hill questioned Clark's decision to appear alongside Pat McAfee. Wilder suggested Clark needed to do something “for her own PR,” a notion the article counters by highlighting Clark's status as a popular athlete and spokesperson for major brands. Clark's signature Nike shoe, for instance, nearly sold out within two hours of its release.
Controversy Over Past Remarks
Wilder also brought up comments made by Pat McAfee in 2024, where he used the term “white b—-“ in reference to Clark. The article clarifies that McAfee's comment was made in defense of Clark, arguing that the attention she generated for the WNBA should not be solely attributed to her race. McAfee had apologized for his wording, and the article states that Clark accepted his apology.
Wilder and Hill also pressed Clark to make more forceful public statements regarding online harassment and threats directed at athletes. The article points out that Clark has addressed these issues multiple times, including in September 2024, May 2025, and July 2026. In these instances, she condemned racism, hurtful comments, and threats, stating that those engaging in such behavior were not true fans but rather “trolls.”
Scrutiny and WNBA Economics
The podcast hosts also discussed comments made by WNBA player Kelsey Mitchell regarding the scrutiny surrounding the Indiana Fever. The article notes the significant increase in Mitchell's salary, attributing her current $1.4 million WNBA salary to her performance, but also to the overall growth in audience and league revenue, which it suggests Clark has helped foster.
The article criticizes the podcast hosts' perspective, particularly Wilder's assertion that Clark needs better PR. It contrasts the podcast's low YouTube viewership with the massive audience drawn by Clark's appearance on "College GameDay," suggesting that the hosts themselves could benefit from improved visibility and a more nuanced understanding of their subjects. The narrative presented in the article frames the criticism as politically motivated and overlooking Clark's own clear stances on social issues and her significant impact on the sport's popularity.