WNBA star Caitlin Clark's playmaking role has been crucial for Team USA's World Cup run. However, media personality Jason Lee Whitlock has questioned her decision-making, which didn’t sit well with the fans.

Whitlock’s analysis of why Clark hasn’t started a game at the World Cup caused massive uproar. Fans concluded that the 59-year-old opts to criticize the Fever guard at every opportunity. Whitlock came out to defend himself.

“There isn't a single person alive with a functioning brain who think Caitlin Clark is the only athlete I criticize. Not one,” Whitlock wrote on X. “And criticism that starts with "she can be an all-time great player" isn't really criticism.”

Despite Whitlock's argument, as seen on his X post, the basketball community felt that his criticism of Clark was out of line. 

Clark has been instrumental in controlling the tempo of Team USA’s games. Whitlock's solo-act criticism contradicts Clark's 5.8 assists per game.

"CC can be an all-time great. However, her decision-making has to improve. They don't trust her decision-making. It's not racism,” Whitlock wrote on X earlier. “She did not learn to play with other great players at Iowa. It hampers her in the W and international stage. Solo act.”

Coming off the bench against China in the opener, Clark dropped 14 points and 11 assists.

Again, in a crucial encounter against Hungary in the quarterfinal, the Fever guard racked up 10 points and nine assists. 

Adapting to a new bench role and a playmaking role, Clark has been putting up the numbers on the big stage.

Fever coach and Team USA assistant Stephanie White has pointed out exactly that. 

Clark decides the tempo of the game

Caitlin Clark has been playing differently for her nation in Berlin than she does for the Indiana Fever under head coach Stephanie White. 

“I mean, she is managing the game," White said, as reported by IndyStar's Carter Jones. “She's doing a great job of understanding who she's on the floor with and how to get them the ball in the right situations and, you know, pushing pace for us.” 

White’s praise contradicts Whitlock’s criticism. Rather than hitting her trademark three-pointers, the 24-year-old has been setting the tone in the big games. 

In fact, Clark could very well break Dawn Staley’s 1998 assist record of 5.8 per game, the most by a U.S. player at the World Cup or Championships.  

Head coach Kara Lawson has opted for veterans in her starting lineup but has brought Clark in at crucial stages. 

France awaits Team USA in the final, and Clark has the chance to shut down critics with a solid performance. 

Written by

Avishek Sarkar