Caitlin Clark has changed everything. Her incredible rise, alongside the popularity of women’s sports, has completely altered athletics and attracted millions of new fans. So, when the sports community comes together to celebrate at major events like the ESPY Awards, you’d expect a reflection of this huge change. But what happens when the very platforms meant to honor greatness instead stumble, showing a troubling disconnect?
This year’s ESPYs, broadcast by a leading sports network, quickly became a hot topic, exposing a troubling gap between the reality of women’s sports and how some parts of the media choose to portray it. The controversy at the ESPYs flew, thanks to the host, comedian Shane Gillis. His attempts at humor during the ceremony came off as tone-deaf and disrespectful to many. Known for his edgy style and often controversial stand-up style, Gillis mixes observational humor, dark comedy, and satire, which can sometimes push the envelope and provoke mixed reactions.
To his credit, this unique approach has earned him a loyal fan base, especially through his hit podcast, “Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast,” and his Netflix specials. However, it hasn’t come without its share of backlash, including his infamous firing from Saturday Night Live in 2019, before he even had a chance to appear on the show, after a podcast clip resurfaced featuring racial and homophobic slurs.
At the ESPYs, he didn’t hold back. Gillis quickly faced backlash for his opening monologue. One of his most criticized jokes targeted Caitlin Clark, who was absent due to an injury: “When Caitlin Clark retires from the WNBA, she’s going to work at a Waffle House so she can continue doing what she loves most: fist-fighting Black women.” This not-so-cool comment elicited a mix of laughter and awkward silence from the audience.
Veteran ESPN writer Sarah Spain didn’t hold back while taking a dig at the host: “In a year of crazy growth for women’s sports choosing an ESPYs host who doesn’t even try to make clever jokes about women athletes (he at least *attempted* for the men) he goes with hacky “no one knows the WNBA” bits, “Pinoe is a bad time” & repeatedly insults Black women. COOL.” She openly criticized the network’s approach.
Sarah pointed out the host’s reliance on tired jokes about the WNBA and a dismissive comment about soccer star Megan Rapinoe, and most alarmingly, “repeatedly insulting Black women.” This critique highlighted a harsh contrast with a year that has seen “crazy growth for women’s sports,” making the network’s on-air performance.
In a year of crazy growth for women’s sports choosing an ESPYs host who doesn’t even try to make clever jokes about women athletes (he at least *attempted* for the men) he goes with hacky “no one knows the WNBA” bits, “Pinoe is a bad time” & repeatedly insults Black women. COOL.
— Sarah Spain (@SarahSpain) July 17, 2025
The evening took an awkward turn when a segment meant to celebrate Caitlin Clark’s incredible achievement, her ESPY for Best Player in the WNBA, played out in a rather clumsy manner. Since Clark wasn’t there, a few ESPN analysts stepped in to accept the award for her. When her name was called, the four female analysts on stage responded with a rather flat, “okay,” lacking any real enthusiasm.
Then, analyst Ari Chambers grabbed the mic and made a comment that left viewers scratching their heads and sparked a social media uproar: “Her villain origin story has started, and she loves to play into it. Fans eat it right up.” This remark, made right after Clark was honored, seemed completely out of touch with how the public views her. Chambers later tried to clarify on X, vaguely connecting Clark’s “fiery fierceness” to a “villain origin story” and even suggesting she was the “daughter” of Diana Taurasi in this context. This only added to the confusion, leaving many questioning the logic behind such commentary.
Is ESPY Missing the Point on Clark?
This recent ESPYs moment, marked by a host who missed the point and an analyst’s confusing commentary, isn’t just a one-off mistake. It seems to highlight a deeper, ongoing issue. A segment of ESPY that appears to struggle with fully recognizing Caitlin Clark’s groundbreaking and transformative impact. For a network that prides itself on being the top name in sports, it has hesitated to wholeheartedly celebrate Clark as perhaps the most thrilling and undeniably significant player in WNBA history.
Many fans and experts alike argue that Clark’s unique appeal is the main, if not the only, reason for the overflow in viewership and interest now surrounding the league. When the very figures representing the network seem to misrepresent, downplay, or even subtly undermine the excitement that’s pushing this new engagement, it raises serious questions about ESPY’s strategic direction and its dedication, even while awarding players sports’ rapid growth.
Syndication: The Indianapolis Star Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark 22 reacts to a call from the referee on Friday, May 30, 2025, during the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Connecticut Sun defeated the Indiana Fever, 85-83. Indianapolis , EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xGracexHollars/IndyStarx USATSI_26335334
In a year where women’s basketball has not just grown but truly exploded, breaking viewership records and pushing past the traditional boundaries of sports, the recent missteps from a major media player are more than just unfortunate blunders. They show the gap between the media and the passionate fan base.
If ESPY wants to remain at the forefront of sports awards, it needs to move past tired jokes and poorly conceived narratives. With so many new fans openly admitting they tuned into women’s basketball just for Caitlin Clark, can ESPY really afford to overlook this trend? They could be putting at risk a huge chunk of the audience that just helped make history!
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