Billie Jean King Likens Animosity Towards Caitlin Clark To Chris Evert, Warns WNBA Not To 'Blow It'

Tennis great Billie Jean King saw a jealousy-driven scenario like the one we're seeing with Caitlin Clark in the WNBA take place in her own sport over 50 years ago. She took matters into her own hands by not letting women's tennis implode at the time and is warning the WNBA it had better not blow this new opportunity either.

King, who met Clark after attending the Indiana Fever - New York Liberty game last month, drew the comparison to some of her fellow tennis players not exactly embracing Chris Evert when she burst onto the scene at the 1971 U.S. Open at just 16 years old.

"She’s the reason we had all those people watching us," King, who gathered veteran players together at the tournament, told USA Today Sports. "I told them Chris is fantastic for our sport. Look at the crowds. You could not get in the place. She’s the next superstar. She’s going to put more money in our pockets."

"That means everyone has to be more hospitable. When you’re on the court against her, you gotta play tough as always, but no cheap shots. It’s our job to make sure she is treated fairly."

Caitlin Clark is already the face of the WNBA, and Billie Jean King recognizes that. (Photo by Catalina Fragoso/NBAE via Getty Images)

King's ‘no cheap shots’ message is one that some veteran players around the WNBA haven't subscribed to when it comes to Clark. Chicago's Chennedy Carter hip-checked Clark to the ground in a non-basketball play and was cheered on by a number of her teammates, including Angel Reese, after the fact.

It's abundantly clear that some WNBA players can't accept that Clark is already the face of the league and the sole reason any casual sports fan is talking about the league at all.

King recognizes that reality, however.

"Whether you like it or not, Caitlin is the reason for so much of this interest. She’s a superstar. When she does well, everyone does better. The league is going to do better," King said. "The veterans were the building blocks and now Caitlin and this rookie class have this incredible platform to take the league to an entirely new place."

"This generation is so important for the WNBA, you have to set an example. Children are watching. How do you want to be remembered? This generation has a chance to set this league on fire. Don’t blow it with animosity. Do not blow it. Just play ball. Play hard but no cheap shots."

Like the NBA, the WNBA needs physicality, rivalries, and storylines to drive fan interest, but Clark, the most-valuable asset in the league, taking on cheap shots and risking injury every time she steps on the floor isn't the wisest of business plans for anyone involved with the league.