Iowa Hawkeyes: Caitlin Clark Outburst Sparks Major Criticism from Popular Sports Analyst

For those who missed it, Clark and her dad went viral during the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. In the second quarter of the contest with Holy Cross, Clark was frustrated by her poor start and turned her attention to the officiating to complain.

As the camera panned to her dad, the Clark patriarch was seen shouting at his daughter and telling her to just shut up and stop complaining. Brent Clark was sitting courtside and was obviously not a fan of her daughter focusing too much on other stuff rather than her performance.

Many parents were able to relate to Mr. Clark, and it was the talk of the sports world even before after the game.

For her part, Clark said that while she was not engaging with her father during the viral moment, she understands where her dad is coming from.

“He was probably agreeing with me, you know him,” Clark said as she laughed. “He definitely tells me to calm down sometimes. The best thing about my dad, he’s the most chill person. But when he played (college basketball), he was the same fiery, competitive person like I am. I love him to death. He’s always been my biggest fan.

“I think he knows how I’m wired more than anybody. … I think it shows what camera angles can do sometimes. They kind of create their own story.”

Jason Whitlock Not Happy With Caitlin Clark’s Attitude

While many have moved on from the moment and played down Caitlin Clark’s complaining as something she did out of passion, Jason Whitlock was not thrilled to see how the Iowa Hawkeyes sharpshooter has changed.

The veteran sports commentator shared that Clark is “in the process of destroying the reputation and perception” she has built, adding that the intense complaining doesn’t do her any good.

“It was a bad look for the player I affectionately call ‘Show White,’ the biggest star in all of college athletics. She looks spoiled and entitled. I give her dad credit for recognizing it and trying to address it. Her dad can see what I can see and what everybody can see,” Whitlock said, via AM 1300.

“Caitlin Clark is in the process of destroying the reputation and perception, that combined with her uncanny shot-making made her the most fascinating story in all of sports… Probably since Tiger Woods won the Masters in 1997. For the past year Clark has walked the line of carrying herself with just enough swagger and bravado to grab your attention, and just enough likability and humility to make you love her.”

Perhaps Whitlock is right that Clark is complaining too much. Nonetheless, for a competitor like Clark who always has a target on her back, it’s hard not to be passionate and control your overall emotions–especially during a game where a loss will end their title hopes.

With that being said, perhaps Clark deserves some slack as well. Sure she can improve, but all players who are on the top of their game do complain and doesn’t hold back when they feel they are wronged. In the end, it’s part of the game.