Whoopi Goldberg Blasts Caitlin Clark on Live TV: “She’s Just a White Girl Trying to Dominate a Black Sport—and It’s Not Working”
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It started as a routine Hot Topics segment. The panel was discussing the meteoric rise of Caitlin Clark, the Indiana Fever rookie whose record-breaking performances and headline-grabbing style have made her the face of the WNBA’s new era. As the conversation turned to Clark’s impact on the league, Whoopi Goldberg—never one to shy away from controversy—leaned forward and delivered the line that would echo across the internet:
“Let’s be real, y’all. This is just another white girl trying to take over a Black sport.”
The studio fell silent. Co-hosts Joy Behar and Sunny Hostin exchanged wide-eyed glances, while the audience gasped. Within minutes, clips of the exchange were circulating on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok, sparking intense reactions from fans, athletes, and commentators across the country.
Social Media Erupts
The backlash was immediate and intense. #WhoopiOut and #StandWithCaitlin began trending as fans rushed to defend Clark and condemn Goldberg’s remarks.
“Caitlin Clark is a generational talent, and her race has nothing to do with her love for the game,” wrote one user. “Why can’t we just celebrate greatness without making it about color?”
Others accused Goldberg of perpetuating racial division. “Imagine if someone said the reverse on national TV,” one post read. “This double standard has to stop.”
But not everyone was critical. Some users echoed Goldberg’s concerns, pointing to a long history of Black women building the WNBA and the recent surge in attention as white players like Clark and Sabrina Ionescu rise to prominence.
“Whoopi said what a lot of people are thinking,” commented another. “Let’s not pretend race doesn’t play a role in who gets the spotlight in women’s sports.”
A Complicated History
The WNBA has long been celebrated for its diversity and the central role of Black athletes in building the league’s culture and success. Legends like Lisa Leslie, Tamika Catchings, and Sheryl Swoopes paved the way for future generations, often without the mainstream recognition or endorsement deals now flowing to the league’s newest stars.
Caitlin Clark, a standout at Iowa before joining the Fever, has drawn comparisons to NBA icons for her deep shooting, electric passing, and confident swagger. She’s also brought a wave of new fans and media attention to the WNBA—something league officials and sponsors have welcomed.
But as Clark’s star rises, questions about race, representation, and who benefits from the league’s newfound popularity have become impossible to ignore.
Voices from the League
Current and former WNBA players were quick to weigh in. A’ja Wilson, two-time MVP and one of the league’s most outspoken voices, posted:
“We need to celebrate ALL the women who built this league AND the ones bringing new eyes to it. Let’s lift each other up, not tear each other down.”
Meanwhile, former player and ESPN analyst Chiney Ogwumike urged fans to see the bigger picture. “Women’s basketball is finally getting the attention it deserves. Let’s use this moment to support each other and keep pushing for equality—for everyone.”
The View Responds
By midday, ABC had released a brief statement acknowledging the controversy.
“We believe in open, honest conversations about important issues. The View is committed to giving voice to diverse perspectives, and we encourage our hosts and viewers to engage respectfully.”
Whoopi Goldberg, for her part, addressed the backlash on her Instagram story later that evening:
“I stand by my words, but I also stand for dialogue. If we want to grow as a sport and as a country, we need to talk about the hard stuff—even if it makes us uncomfortable.”
Clark’s Response: Grace Under Pressure
Caitlin Clark, who has faced both adulation and criticism since entering the league, took the high road when asked about Goldberg’s comments after practice.
“I’ve always respected the women who came before me and the players I share the court with,” Clark said. “Basketball is for everyone. I just want to play, compete, and inspire the next generation—no matter who they are or where they come from.”
Her teammates echoed her sentiment, emphasizing unity and the importance of growing the game together.
Moving Forward: A League at a Crossroads
The firestorm surrounding Goldberg’s comments is a reminder of just how much is at stake as women’s basketball enters a new era. With record audiences, new sponsorships, and a surge in young talent, the WNBA is more visible—and more scrutinized—than ever before.
As the league continues to evolve, the conversation about race, representation, and who gets to be the face of women’s basketball will undoubtedly continue. But if there’s one thing most fans and players agree on, it’s that the game is bigger than any one person or controversy.
SEE MORE: Who is Sophie Cunningham? Caitlin Clark’s new ‘bodyguard’ teammate emerging as a WNBA icon
Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham has become the second-most popular WNBA player among many circles of fans in recent days after aggressively protecting teammate Caitlin Clark from players who hit her.
During a game against the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday, Cunningham started a brawl between the two teams after several physical plays against Clark.
Cunningham’s persona and popularity skyrocketed in the days that followed, as she is slowly becoming an icon among the WNBA’s newer fans.
Cunningham’s follower count on social media has rapidly multiplied
June 17, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana: Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) in the second half against the Connecticut Sun at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. (Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images)
Prior to Tuesday’s game, Cunningham had fewer than 400,000 followers on TikTok.
At the time of publication, she has 1.2 million on TikTok and that number is only growing.
She has an estimated increase of more than 300,000 followers on Instagram since the game as well, with a total of more than 800,000 at the time of publication.
Sportico estimates that her increase in followers could be worth over $1 million.
“It’s unprecedented growth,” Addison Abdo, who represents Cunningham as a senior director at sports management agency PRP, told the outlet. “We work with some pretty big athletes that have gone viral for some pretty big things, but this has been something that I haven’t seen before—this type of growth in this short amount of time … was very new territory.”
Cunningham comes from a family of southern farmers
A five-part feature series by Cunningham’s alma mater, the University of Missouri, recounted her family’s southern farm roots.
Cunningham learned to ride horses and drove four-wheelers to the family’s grain silos.
“So much of our success goes back to what we learned here,” Cunningham said of working on the farm. “We loved coming out to the farm to help. We found out how to work hard and work together. It made us farm strong.”
Cunningham even had a special name for her farmer grandparents: “Maw Maw and Paw Paw.”
Cunningham played football with boys in high school
Cunningham was born into a family of athletes, as her parents, Jim and Paula Cunningham, each played sports at the University of Missouri. Her father played football, and her mother competed in track and field.
So Sophie ended up in sports right away.
She played girls’ basketball and volleyball at Rock Bridge High School in Missouri, but even ended up following in her dad’s footsteps on the football field.
A 2014 article by the Columbia Missourian reported that Cunningham was the first female to ever score any points for the team in history, when she kicked two of four extra points in place of the team’s regular kicker, who had suffered a torn ACL.
Cunningham even handled kick-off duties.
“I was so nervous,” Cunningham told the outlet. “I mean, I’ve never played football before in all my life. Right when I got the ball (on the opening kickoff), I couldn’t hear anything. I just put the ball down and kicked it.”
Cunningham has been able to fight since she was a very young child
With Cunningham earning the nickname “the enforcer” for the Fever, fans counting on her to protect Caitlin Clark can take confidence in knowing she is a black belt in the Korean martial art of Taekwondo.
She earned the black belt at just the tender age of six.
Cunningham’s martial arts experience earned the affection of ESPN host Pat McAfee.
“It feels like Caitlin Clark is going to get treated in a certain way in this league for a long time. She’s not a rookie anymore. She has already proved herself. She has won. And then there was some ladies last night that were trying to get a little physical,” McAfee said during an episode of his show Wednesday.
May 17, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA: Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) poses for a photo on Saturday, May 17, 2025, before a game between the Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. (Grace Smith- Imagn Images via IndyStar)
“And last year, I think something we noticed… when Caitlin would get bullied, nobody would do nothing… They bring in Sophie Cunningham, I had no idea Sophie Cunningham was a black belt at the age of six! Boom! ‘Jacy Sheldon, that’s cute. You want to poke [Clark] in the eye?… I’ll take a take-foul, and you’ll eat the deck a little bit here.'”
Cunningham was once criticized for wearing a hat that resembled a MAGA hat
Back in June of last year, Cunningham posted a photo of herself wearing a red hat with white text on social media, and swarms of critics rushed to speak out against her for perceived support of Donald Trump.
June 17, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana: Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) and Connecticut Sun guard Jacy Sheldon (4) get into a fight in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. (Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images)
However, the hat simply said “Hot Cowgirl Summer.”
Cunningham’s team at the time, the Phoenix Mercury, even had to make a post from the official team account to clarify what the hat said.
OutKick has previously reported that Cunningham has been regularly criticized by WNBA fans who have nicknamed her “MAGA Barbie.”
Cunningham’s official political views are unknown.
