Donald Trump’s Role in Caitlin Clark Probe Will Hamper WNBA, Says Stephen A. Smith

Stephen A. Smith and many others have consistently claimed that Caitlin Clark is the most important player in the WNBA. Her basketball skills aside, it is her persona that brings in millions of fans to the league.

There was a time when the professional league could not garner even one million viewers on a consistent basis. That changed overnight when the Iowa Hawkeyes sensation became the No. 1 overall draft pick for the Indiana Fever.

Merchandise was selling out in hours, tickets to her games were always sold out, and fans crowded around her in hordes just to get an autograph.

It so happens that all of this has not been easy to accept for her peers. Last season, there were calls to the Fever to recruit an enforcer to protect Caitlin Clark from jealous opponents.

This season, that enforcer came in the form of Sophie Cunningham, who manhandled Jacy Sheldon after her physical plays against Clark. But that is not enough, as per a Wall Street Journal article published on August 4th.

The author, Sean McLean, asks for a federal investigation into the WNBA’s inability to protect Caitlin Clark over her civil rights. That came to the attention of Stephen A. Smith, who said this while on First Take.

I happen to know a few people who have said this is something that, ‘do not be surprised if President Trump speaks on eventually’…. If he gets involved and that base gets involved, because somehow, some way, they embrace victimhood on the part of Caitlin Clark, it could be a problem.

Stephen A. Smith said

Stephen A. Smith thinks Donald Trump could get involved calling for an investigation into Caitlin Clark's WNBA treatment.

"If he gets involved and that base gets involved, because somehow, some way they embrace victimhood on the part of Caitlin Clark it could be a problem." pic.twitter.com/TvEYNnqikY

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 7, 2025

The analyst believes that if Donald Trump‘s attention turns towards the WNBA, it could be bad news not only for the news but also for the players, officials, and others involved.

Stephen A. Smith warns WNBA players to take it easy on Caitlin Clark

Stephen A. Smith initially discussed this Wall Street Journal article on his namesake podcast. FOX News interpreted his opinion as one that supported a federal investigation into the WNBA’s treatment of Caitlin Clark. That led him to clarify his stance on First Take.

He pays attention to this kind of stuff and this is the kind of stuff that can feed that base. So I’m saying to the WNBA, because I support the WNBA, I want them to succeed, I want all these ladies to get their money, I want them to have their success, I’m just warning them – watch it.

Stephen A. Smith said

The 57-year-old analyst clarified that he does not want the WNBA or its players to undergo a federal investigation. However, he knows how President Donald Trump and his administration feed off sports and cultural wedge issues.

Smith believes the league and its players must be aware of what could happen if their actions borne out of pettiness continue. The WNBA has also not done enough to protect Clark this season after a string of incidents prompted the WSJ writer to pen that article.

WSJ article blasts WNBA for failing to protect Caitlin Clark

Wall Street Journal’s Sean McLean published the article on August 4th with the intent to bring the country’s attention to a matter that he felt was serious enough that it warranted a federal investigation.

She routinely faces intentional hits, excessive fouling, and uncalled abuse while referees look away… Under civil-rights law, race-motivated patterns trigger scrutiny even without explicit discriminatory intent.

Sean McLean wrote in his article

The author quoted A’ja Wilson’s words, talking about race and how it causes people to react differently to different people. McLean believes the incidents over the last two seasons indicate that Caitlin Clark is being targeted because she is White.

He pointed out missed foul calls, hostile comments from players and owners, all of which have been documented. The author pointed out that sports, just like any other industry, are also subjected to civil rights, antitrust, and labor laws.

Therefore, he wants the federal government to investigate the WNBA, its officials, and its players for their actions towards Caitlin Clark. He believes she is a victim of racial discrimination.

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