ESPN writer who blamed racism for his arrest says racism is not to blame for Caitlin Clark hate

Fox Sports' OutKick has published a piece criticising ESPN writer Howard Bryant for arguing that the hostility WNBA star Caitlin Clark faces on court is not racially motivated, but rather a reaction to her outspokenness. The article frames this as inconsistent with Bryant's past commentary, noting he previously attributed his own arrest to racism, and uses this contrast to accuse him of applying racism selectively depending on the situation.

The piece is part of OutKick's ongoing coverage of the wider debate around Clark, who has faced repeated hard fouls and what critics call inconsistent officiating this WNBA season. It references related commentary, including Fox host Sage Steele's criticism of the league's officiating and NBA commissioner Adam Silver's remark that Clark has become a "political football", situating Bryant's comments within a broader media dispute over the reasons behind the treatment Clark receives.