Former NFL quarterback makes bombshell claim about racism playing part in Caitlin Clark vs Angel Reese ROY debate

Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese took women’s basketball by storm once again in their final matchup of this WNBA season. Clark’s Indiana Fever dominated Reese’s Chicago Sky, 100-81, on the back of Clark’s monster double-double-laden tally of 31 points and 12 assists. Meanwhile, Reese recorded 10 points and 11 rebounds in the loss.

After the clash, former NFL quarterback and analyst Robert Griffin took to social media to make a bold claim about the WNBA Rookie of the Year race between Clark and Reese. Griffin pointed out Clark’s dominance to solidify his stance in the ongoing rookie debate. However, he chose to emphasize how racism played a part in the rivalry.

"But I will say the quiet part out loud. Too many people are making their public stance on who they think is the WNBA rookie of the year based on race and not the results. Many privately feel differently, but publicly take a different stance to avoid being called out by the people who look like them. When did sports become politics where we deny the truth just to support the party we want to win? That’s sad. We should never let the color of someone’s skin determine or drive our opinion or interpretation of the facts."

Griffin said that Clark has the ROY award in the bag while detailing the statistics that made her the better player this season.

“Caitlin Clark just won the WNBA Rookie of the Year award after tonight’s performance. Until tonight, the debate boiled down to whether you value rebounds and double doubles or points and assists more because Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese play DIFFERENT POSITIONS and are both ballin.”

"Angel Reese is a special player, but Caitlin Clark has earned the award. The Indiana Fever are a dangerous team heading into the playoffs and Caitlin Clark has earned your respect," he concluded.

Caitlin Clark has been on a recent offensive tear

Caitlin Clark’s performance was the latest in an impressive string of great games for the Fever rookie. In her last six games, Clark has averaged 24.0 points, and 8.5 assists, leading the Fever to a 5-1 record since returning from the WNBA’s month-long Olympic break.

Overall, Clark is averaging 18.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 8.3 assists, and 1.4 steals per game this season, delivering on the hype she got upon being drafted in the WNBA.

With Clark’s brilliance, Indiana have also climbed to the .500 mark with a 16-16 record, tied for the sixth-best record in the league with a very strong Phoenix Mercury.

If they secure a postseason spot with Clark, the Fever will be in their first playoffs since 2016, when Clark was still a freshman in high school.