Riley Gaines Slams 'The View' Over Caitlin Clark 'White Privilege' Comments | Will Cain Show
On Wednesday's episode of The View, co-host Sunny Hostin argued that Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark is only popular because she's white, straight and attractive. And Riley Gaines is calling BS.
The WNBA has skyrocketed in popularity this season, and Clark is a big reason for that. The all-time leading scorer in college basketball history, Clark has brought more attention and more coverage to women's basketball over the past couple of years than the sport has ever seen. But according to the ladies of The View, it's not Clark's skill that makes her a fan favorite.
"I do think that there is a thing called pretty privilege. There is a thing called white privilege. There is a thing called tall privilege, and we have to acknowledge that," Hostin said.
Tall privilege. That's a new one. Clark is 6 feet tall, by the way — pretty standard in the WNBA.
In an appearance on The Will Cain Show Thursday, Gaines explained why Hostin's theory is ludicrous.
"I think it's astounding that you have progressives and liberals who have said for so long, you know, 'Why won't anyone watch the WNBA?'" Gaines began. "Okay, now Caitlin Clark emerges and people start watching the WNBA. And they say 'Well, she's just pretty, tall and white. That's what this is.' It's astounding.
"Caitlin Clark has not gotten the coverage and the attention that she has rightfully gotten because she is white, tall or pretty. It's because she's a phenom."
She's right. Clark has barely begun her professional career, and her list of accolades is already a mile long. In addition to being NCAA Division I's all-time leading scorer, she's also the two-time AP Player of the Year, the two-time Naismith College Player of the Year, a three-time unanimous first-team All-American and a three-time FIBA gold medalist — and that's only scratching the surface.
Riley Gaines Stands Up For Caitlin Clark
Hostin isn't the first person to chalk up Clark's fame to identity politics. Jemele Hill, too, claimed the 2024 No. 1 overall pick's popularity was "problematic" because of her race and sexuality. And Gaines called her out, too.
"All Caitlin Clark has done is sold out arenas, set TV viewership records, she's brought millions of new eyes to women's collegiate basketball and now on to the WNBA," Gaines said. "So saying she is problematic? I mean, to me, it sounds like she's the problem solver."
RELATED: Where Is The Proof Race and Sexuality Boost Caitlin Clark's Popularity? | Bobby Burack
Will Cain then mentioned a tweet that Gaines had shared from Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy. Portnoy listed several other WNBA stars who were also white.
"Nobody cared till Caitlin Clark," he wrote.
And for that reason, Gaines believes whiners like Hostin and Hill are the outliers. Most fans have enough common sense to see through these claims of racism, homophobia and — I guess — gigantasophobia, too (that's the fear of tall people).
"I think the American people see this for what it is. I really do believe that," Gaines said. "Anyone can watch that clip of these women on The View and call this exactly what it is… It's inherently racist.
"It does no good for anyone. It doesn't do good for Caitlin Clark. It doesn't do good for the WNBA. It doesn't do good for black people who are playing in the WNBA. This is harmful to every single person involved, and the American people see that."