If you thought the rookie season of Caitlin Clark was filled with insane drama, we haven’t seen anything yet. That’s according to Stephen A. Smith who sent a warning to the WNBA that President Donald Trump could get involved and bring a government investigation upon the league.
Last week, the Wall Street Journal published an editorial that Clark’s civil rights are potentially being violated because of the physical play that she receives and the fouls that come her way.
Stephen A. Smith commented on the editorial on his podcast, which Fox News interpreted as his support for a federal investigation into the WNBA’s treatment of Caitlin Clark.
On Thursday morning, Smith took to First Take to attempt to clarify his comments. While it was difficult to parse what exactly Smith was saying in regards to his support for an investigation versus saying there is enough evidence to justify one, he made this point very clear.
According to Smith and his sources in the political world, Donald Trump is following what is happening in the WNBA and is potentially ready to weigh in with a government investigation into Caitlin Clark.
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
“I am not guessing on this,” Smith said. “I didn’t go on my show and just bring it up for no reason. I happen to know a few people who have said this is something that, ‘do not be surprised if President Trump speaks on eventually.’ And if that man decides that this is something that can feed his base, that can ingratiate himself with that kind of audience that is protective of a Caitlin Clark and what she stands for and what she represents, and they come to a conclusion that they believe she is being unfairly treated, that is going to be a problem for the WNBA.”
Caitlin Clark has long been a political football tossed back and forth because of her unique star power and popularity, but this would take it to a new and completely insane level.
The Indiana Fever star has admitted she has received physical play across the WNBA. So have commentators and others in the women’s basketball world. But plenty of other athletes before her across sports that were superstars have experienced the same. And neither Clark, nor anyone else in the WNBA is asking for the federal government to get involved. And for Trump or anyone else in power to try to litigate something happening between the lines would in sports would be a crossing of the Rubicon like we have never seen before in American athletics.
“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. Because 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,” Smith added.
Knowing how the Trump administration views sports and cultural wedge issues, it is definitely within the realm of possibility to see this happen. One can’t overlook how the administration riding in to save Clark would play to the MAGA base. But it would also stir up racial tensions and deepen the cultural divide in this country even more. A Trump vs WNBA storyline would become even more polarizing than the feud with the NFL and Colin Kaepernick from the first Trump administration.
The current administration taking up this fight, whether anyone is asking for it or not, would be a nightmare scenario for Caitlin Clark, the WNBA, and the sports world as a whole. But if Donald Trump thinks he can secure more political capital from taking advantage of the situation, no matter what the fallout may be, all bets are off.
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