Shane Gillis Starts ESPYs With Off-Color Joke About Caitlin Clark Before Going On A Heater As Host

Humor draws big laughs from the room of athletes and ESPN’s ever-annoying personalities

ESPN finally got something right by hiring comedian Shane Gillis to host the 2025 ESPY Awards.

Kicking off the festivities on Wednesday, Gillis opened with a series of off-color jokes in his monologue, including a sharp take on Caitlin Clark's plans after the WNBA.

A day after Clark seemingly re-injured her groin and clashed with officials in a game against the Connecticut Sun, Gillis poked fun at the physical scrums she’s endured as the face of a fiercely competitive league.

Sure, Clark gets tossed around by opponents; the WNBA certainly loves to put a target on this white girl's back.

Gillis, who met Clark in April and was admittedly star-struck, has noticed, and he's now putting the league in an uncomfortable spotlight.

"When Caitlin Clark retires from the WNBA, she’s going to work at a Waffle House so she can keep doing what she loves most, fist-fighting black women," Gillis quipped, drawing big laughs from the room of athletes and ESPN’s ever-annoying personalities.

Chennedy Carter, DiJonai Carrington, and Marina Mabrey might want a word, Shane.

Add that to the Epstein jab and an SGA foul-merchant dig, and Gillis is off to a strong start. 

From getting her eyes poked to getting shoved to the ground, Clark has been on the end of some furious plays in less than two full seasons in the WNBA. Considering all the added attention and revenue boost she's attracted, it's a mystery to fans as to why she continues to absorb the physical pounding.

Gillis took a shot at more than just Clark, including figures in and out of sports, such as Deshaun Watson, Bill Belichick, JorDON Hudson and Donald Trump. The host joked that Trump wanted to deport New York Mets Juan Soto — ICE jokes were nearly guaranteed — and that Belichick needed pills to ‘up’ his game with Hudson. 

Gillis nailed a hilarious bit about the WNBA, pointing out that aside from Clark, its stars lack real star power.

The comedian was on a heater. Expect Gillis to host plenty more awards shows in the future. Go woke, go broke … or don't go woke and watch your career take off, with Gillis as the prime example.

Take that, SNL.

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Alejandro Avila is a longtime writer at OutKick, living in Southern California. 

AA's insights on topics ranging from cinema to food and politics transformed the lives of average folks worldwide into followers of the OutKick Way. All Glory to God.

Interests: Jeopardy, movies, Jiu-Jitsu, faith, Los Angeles. (follow @alejandroaveela on X)