Bill Maher Guest Credits Caitlin Clark Being White For Her Popularity

Bill Maher and Charlamagne tha God engaged in an interesting debate about Caitlin Clark, the WNBA and race.

Clark remains in the news as people snipe at her for being white, and people are very upset she's not interested in getting into debates about what happens on social media. She just wants to focus on playing basketball. Her critics and haters in the WNBA and media have little to no interest in allowing that.

The two popular media personalities discussed the situation Friday night on "Real Time with Bill Maher." Specifically, they discussed A'ja' Wilson's comments about Clark and race from early in the season.

The Las Vegas Aces star told the AP the following when discussing Clark being white and her popularity:

"I think it’s a huge thing. I think a lot of people may say it’s not about black and white, but to me, it is. It really is because you can be top notch at what you are as a black woman, but yet maybe that’s something that people don’t want to see. They don’t see it as marketable, so it doesn’t matter how hard I work. It doesn’t matter what we all do as black women, we’re still going to be swept underneath the rug. That’s why it boils my blood when people say it’s not about race because it is."

Bill Maher and Charlamagne tha God debate Caitlin Clark.

The pair dived into Wilson's comments in what was an interesting debate, and much calmer than some of the insanity we've seen unfold recently. However, Charlamagne does feel race plays a role in Clark's popularity, but not because her fans are racist. Simply because she's a white excelling in an industry that is dominated by black women.

"Caitlin Clark has a tangible quality that nobody can really quantify, and what that is is just the ability to put asses in seats. You don't know who's going to be a draw and who's not going to be a draw. There's been plenty of white women basketball players who have come through who have been great, right, but they just weren't able to draw the type of audience Caitlin Clark has. And I think the other thing with Caitlin, anytime you are a race that is in an industry that doesn't usually excel in that industry, it's going to be more of a spectacle. Whether it's Tiger Woods in golf, whether it's Eminem in hip-hop, whether it's Obama in politics. When you are a race that's in an industry that usually doesn't have people from that race excel in that industry, it's going to be more of a spectacle. I think that's what Caitlin Clark…," Charlamagne tha God said during his Friday night appearance.

"But you don't think it's a problem that this young woman...There are so many examples where, I mean, black people are very marketable, and [Wilson] seems to have been indoctrinated into, 'They don't see it as marketable. So, it doesn't matter how hard I work.' I don't think that's accurate or healthy," Maher responded  in a clearly skeptical tone.

Caitlin Clark is incredibly popular in the WNBA. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images)

Charlamagne pointed out it took Wilson a long time in the WNBA to get a signature shoe deal while Clark got a $28 million Nike deal right after college.

"When people come into the league and they're the biggest thing in college, isn't that a big deal," Maher asked. Apparently, the answer to that question is no.

"No, because A'ja Wilson was the biggest thing when she came out of South Carolina. That's where I'm from, and she was one of the biggest things when she came out of South Carolina. Number one draft pick, and she didn't get all of that. So, what do you attribute that to," the popular radio star responded.

When pressed by Maher on whether Charlamagne is implying racism is to blame, he quickly denied that and stated, "No, I'm just saying that I think A'ja Wilson has a point, and I think sometimes when, you know, black women say certain things, we should listen, especially her because I'm not in her shoes."

Maher, unrelenting, asked why Serena Williams was able to become such a big star under this theory of different standards, and Charlamgne just kind of sat there unable to answer. He also doubled down on the fact Clark is white in a predominantly black league and talented helps her gain attention.

You can watch a clip of the exchange below, and let me know your thoughts at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.

While Charlamagne credits race for playing a role in Clark's insane rise, he's off-base when it comes to trying to compare Wilson to the former Iowa star.

The reason why Cailtin Clark is so popular isn't because she's white. It's because she plays the game in a fashion fans have never seen from a female player in the history of the sport.

She's a female Steph Curry. Clark is lethal the moment she crosses half court. The Indiana Fever star brings a level of excitement fans hadn't seen in college, and that's why her popularity is more than any other player in the WNBA.

How many casual basketball fans had heard of A'ja Wilson prior to her comments about Clark? Not many. And Maher is also 100% correct in his assessment that black athletes are celebrated in America. Floyd Mayweather, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods and many other black athletes are celebrated.

Bill Maher and Charlamagne tha God debate Caitlin Clark. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images)

To Charlamange's credit, he didn't accuse anyone of being racist for liking Clark. That's a nice change of pace. The morons in the media love pushing that narrative and Sun player Dijonai Carrington fired off one of the dumbest tweets you'll ever see about the narrative around Clark.

Have a take on Caitlin Clark? Let me know at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.