LOS ANGELES – The simmering tension within the WNBA has officially boiled over, but this time, the heat isn’t coming from the critics—it’s coming from a legend who has seen enough. In a moment that is already reverberating across the basketball world, Hall of Famer Cheryl Miller has stepped into the center of the Caitlin Clark controversy, delivering a blistering defense of the rookie sensation and launching a “knockout blow” against her detractors.

For months, the narrative surrounding the Indiana Fever star has been clouded by what many fans perceive as resentment from the WNBA’s “old guard.” From the controversial Team USA Olympic snub to the relentless on-air criticisms by Sheryl Swoopes, Clark’s record-breaking rookie season was often overshadowed by a barrage of negativity. But appearing on the “All the Smoke” podcast recently, Cheryl Miller decided it was time to set the record straight, and she did not mince her words.

“You Big Dummies”

In what is sure to become the defining quote of this saga, Miller directly addressed the faction of former players and analysts who have tried to minimize Clark’s impact on the league. Her message was simple, blunt, and undeniably true: Caitlin Clark is the economic engine fueling the entire sport right now.

“With that being said, you big dummies, you getting paid now, right?” Miller exclaimed, calling out the sheer illogical nature of hating the very person who is bringing unprecedented revenue, viewership, and attention to the WNBA.

Miller’s comments cut through the noise of “basketball purity” arguments and hit the bottom line. With viewership records shattering and attendance skyrocketing wherever Clark plays, the financial benefits are trickling down to every team and player. To Miller, biting the hand that feeds the league isn’t just petty—it’s stupid.

Dismantling the Swoopes Narrative

The interview served as a systematic deconstruction of the specific attacks launched by fellow legend Sheryl Swoopes. Earlier this year, Swoopes sparked outrage with a series of bizarre and factually incorrect claims, including the assertion that Clark was a “25-year-old playing against 20-year-olds” in college (Clark was 22) and that she took “40 shots a game” (her average was 22.7).

Miller, who coached Clark during the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game, expressed disbelief at these narratives. She highlighted the hypocrisy of the criticism, noting that Swoopes herself took nearly as many shots per game during her prime.

“I was happy and gratified to learn that the story wasn’t accurate,” Miller said, referring to the negative picture painted by the media and critics. Instead of the selfish ball-hog she had been told to expect, Miller found a “3D version thinker” whose defensive instincts and passing ability far exceeded expectations.

“Finally, Someone Who’s On My Side”

Perhaps the most revealing and emotional part of Miller’s defense came when she recounted her personal interactions with Clark. The relationship between the two blossomed during the WNBA All-Star weekend, where Miller coached Team WNBA to a victory over Team USA—a game that many saw as a vindication for Clark after being left off the Olympic roster.

Miller described the experience of coaching Clark as the “best coaching job ever,” but it was a moment following the Indiana Fever’s first win of the season that truly exposed the emotional toll the criticism had taken on the young star.

Miller recalled hugging Clark, telling her she was proud of her. Clark’s response was heartbreakingly vulnerable: “Oh man, finally someone who’s on my side.”

“She was being struck with everything from left to right,” Miller recalled, describing the isolation Clark felt as she navigated a league that seemed hostile to her arrival. Miller’s advice to her was simple but powerful: “Keep being you. No matter what, keep being you.”

Exposing the “Hate”

Miller offered a unique psychological perspective on why Clark faces such intense scrutiny, drawing from her own experience as a trailblazer. “I know what it’s like to be hated,” Miller admitted, suggesting that the animosity directed at Clark stems from a complex mix of competitiveness, misunderstanding, and perhaps a touch of envy at the “crown” that has been placed on Clark’s head—a crown she didn’t ask for but wears nonetheless.

“It wasn’t something that she self-anointed herself; it’s something that’s been placed on her head,” Miller explained.

By framing the backlash as a natural, albeit ugly, reaction to greatness, Miller provided context to the “Team USA” drama. While she didn’t explicitly detail the Olympic selection committee’s internal discussions, her defense illuminated the broader culture of exclusion that Clark has faced. The implication is clear: the same “big dummy” energy that drives the media criticism likely played a role in the decision to leave the most popular player in the world at home during the Paris Games.

The Verdict

Cheryl Miller’s intervention is a turning point. When a figure of her stature—a three-time Naismith Player of the Year and basketball royalty—steps up to call the critics “big dummies,” it invalidates the “hater” narrative once and for all.

She has drawn a line in the sand. On one side are the bitter critics clinging to the past; on the other are the pragmatists and fans who recognize that Caitlin Clark is the present and future of the sport. As Miller so eloquently put it, everyone is getting paid now. It’s time for the hate to stop and for the league to embrace the revolution.