Paige Spiranac is “disappointed” by the Caitlin Clark hate from peers and veterans, but isn’t “surprised.”
Taking to X on Sunday night, the longtime golf influencer spoke out about the recent chatter engulfing the Iowa superstar, whose Hawkeyes fell to the South Carolina Gamecocks in Sunday’s national championship game, 87-75, the final collegiate contest of Clark’s career.
“The hate towards Caitlin Clark from current and former players is disappointing but not surprising. Women can be absolutely vicious to other women while also preaching empowering the next generation. I’ve seen it first hand but we must remember a rising tide lifts all boats,” Spiranac wrote to her nearly one million followers.
Spiranac has frequently spoken about the criticism she has received from LPGA players as she morphed from aspiring professional to full-time influencer.
“Some of them are really cool and I’ve known for a while,” Spiranac said on an Instagram Q&A last year. “Some really hate how I present myself and the game on social media. Empowered women empower other women so I’m hopeful we can just the f–k over it one day soon.”
The post from Spiranac — who has long dealt with critics both on and off the course — did not call out anyone specifically, but came on the heels of recent comments made by some within the sport, including two-time WNBA champion Breanna Stewart.
Stewart, who won four national championships with UConn, suggested Clark needed an NCAA title to solidify her legacy as one of the all-time greats in women’s college hoops.
“Yeah, she does, I think so,” Stewart told SiriusXM’s Nicole Auerbach when asked, “Does Caitlin Clark need a championship to be considered one of the greats in women’s college basketball history?”
“You’re going to look 10 years back and you’re going to see all the records she’s broken and the points and stuff like that, but anybody knows, your goal when you play college basketball is to win a national championship. So, you need one,” the two-time WNBA MVP continued.
Hall of Famer Lynette Woodard claimed Saturday that Clark did not break her record to become the all-time leading women’s scorer in major college basketball earlier this year.
“I don’t think my record has been broken because you can’t duplicate what you’re not duplicating,” said Woodard, who played at Kansas. “Unless you come with a men’s basketball and a 2-point shot, hey, you know.”
Woodard addressed her remarks on Sunday in an Instagram post, writing: “No one respects Caitlin Clark’s accomplishments more than I do. This is why I accepted Iowa’s invitation to participate in Caitlin’s senior day. My message was: a lot has changed, on and off the court, which makes it difficult to compare statistical accomplishments from different eras. Each is a snapshot in time. Caitlin holds the scoring record. I salute her and will be cheering for her throughout the rest of her career.”
Though Clark didn’t capture a championship title on Sunday, she’s forever grateful to have worn a Hawkeyes uniform as she readies for the next chapter of her career.
“Words cannot express my love for my teammates, coaches, fans and our university – Thanks for making my dreams come true. Wearing Iowa across my chest the last four years has been an honor. This place will always be home,” Clark posted Sunday evening on X.
Clark, who is projected to be the top pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, was later lauded by WNBA icon Sue Bird and South Carolina coach Dawn Staley “for lifting up our sport.”
“She carried a heavy load for our sport and it’s just not going to stop here on the collegiate tour, but when she is the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft, she’s going to lift up that league up as well,” Staley said of Clark after claiming her third national title.
Spiranac, 31, found Staley’s postgame comments to be “supportive and kind.”
“Caitlin has handled all this attention and pressure with so much grace and it was nice of Staley to acknowledge her impact,” she wrote on X.
This year’s WNBA draft takes place on April 15 and the Indiana Fever hold the No. 1 overall pick.
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