Many words have been used to describe Caitlin Clark over the past several months, and one of them happens to be "polarizing." The Indiana Fever guard generates fervent love and scathing criticism, both of which were on full display after past comments by TV personality Joy Taylor resurfaced online.
For reasons not entirely related to basketball, fans have started reacting to a June 2024 clip featuring Fox Sports host Joy Taylor, who was commenting on the supposed origin of Clark's popularity:
"We were not talking about Caitlin Clark before Angel Reese walked up to her, did this (the 'You can't see me' gesture), and pointed to the ring," Taylor said.
Taylor, of course, was referring to the viral moment between Clark and Reese in the 2023 national championship game. During the fourth quarter of the LSU-Iowa showdown, Reese reciprocated an earlier taunt by Clark, then gestured towards her finger as if to flaunt the championship ring she was about to receive.
Here's how Twitter reacted to the resurfaced video.
"Caitvoodoo strikes again!" said one X user.
"Yeh no one was talking about CC who, just the game before the final with LSU, put 41 points on the previous “undefeated” South Carolina team to get to the final!!" another X user wrote.
"LMAO she is Right the MEDIA weren't talking about her. But you know who were, ....ALL HER FANS," commented another user.
Other comments alluded to a recent bit of news that could impact Taylor's career:
"Imagine doing what Joy Taylor did just to push lies about Caitlin Clark. Sad," added another netizen.
A 42-page lawsuit was filed by a former Fox Sports hairstylist. One of the claims made in this lawsuit is that Taylor engaged in sexual relations with Fox Sports Executive Vice President Charlie Dixon. This supposedly led to Dixon wielding his corporate influence so that Taylor could have her broadcasting role.
With Taylor in the eye of the storm after the filing of this lawsuit, some fans have revisited controversial takes that she's put forward in the past.
Caitlin Clark draws support from another sports analyst
While Joy Taylor didn't exactly have kind words for Caitlin Clark in that June 2024 clip, another media personality came to her support after the Fever star was supposedly snubbed by a major sports publication.
Though Clark garnered many year-end awards at the end of 2024, she was not named Sportsperson of the Year by Sports Illustrated. That honor went to gymnast Simone Biles — a decision that did not sit well with columnist and program host Jason Whitlock.
"This is a joke," Whitlock wrote on X. "She (Biles) was relevant for 2 weeks this summer. Caitlin Clark and Shohei Ohtani were relevant for months."