Cam Newton Has Some Tough Love For Caitlin Clark: ‘You Gotta Ice Up, Son’

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Just a month into her rookie season, Caitlin Clark has quickly become the most famous and the most polarizing figure in the WNBA. She's taken some sharp criticism (and some hard fouls) from players and from media who seem to take issue with the popularity of the No. 1 overall pick.

Now, Cam Newton is throwing in his two cents.

Last week, Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter gave Clark a hard hip check, knocking her to the ground. Just before she slammed into her, Carter can be seen calling the Indiana Fever rookie a "b*tch."

Chennedy Carter's hip check on Caitlin Clark was initially called a common foul but was upgraded later to a flagrant 1.

(Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Newton discussed this altercation on the latest episode of his 4th & 1 podcast. And while many people jumped to Clark's defense after this incident, the former NFL quarterback is taking a slightly different approach — arguing the phenom doesn't need to be coddled.

"Why are we actin’ as if she’s America’s sweetheart in a league that, she’s in a league full of hyenas and lions, tigers and bears?" Newton said. "Everybody is comin’ after you to try to dethrone you, and trying to get in your head —mentally, physically, emotionally. And this is just an example of that… Nobody is above getting checked or being disliked. So, Caitlin, welcome to the big leagues. Everybody ain’t gonna like you."

He also had some advice for Clark moving forward.

"Everybody not gon’ like the fact that you just are as young as you are and you’re the face of the WNBA," Newton said. "They’re not gonna like the fact that Nike just dropped a big boy bag on you. So, yeah… what did Steve Smith say? You gotta ice up, son."

For the record, Clark has never asked to be coddled or treated like "America's sweetheart." But Newton is right about one thing: Not everyone in the WNBA is thrilled about her success and her money at such a young age. And that's become increasingly evident over the past few weeks.