On Tuesday, OutKick highlighted that discussions about Caitlin Clark should focus on basketball only after players and media members acknowledge their role in fueling the surrounding hysteria.

Hours later, sports commentator Elle Duncan placed blame on Caitlin Clark and her fans for the ongoing drama. Speaking on "The Sports Gossip Show" podcast, Duncan said, "I would love for it to be very clear to the people who think they are her fans but are using her, if she would say, ‘stop that sh--, I don’t want it, I’m tired of it.’ As opposed to what we’ve seen, which is ‘the media makes up these narratives, the media makes up this discourse.'"

Duncan argued that it is Clark's responsibility to denounce fans who co-opt her name to push their own agendas, stating, "People should not be using my name to push those agendas. It's disappointing. It's not acceptable."

She also defended the media's role in the controversy, noting that while the media highlights stories, it did not fabricate real-world actions such as members of Congress seeking government intervention over foul calls in games.

This defense comes amid heightened tensions, including a recent USA Today op-ed that controversially suggested Clark's playing style could put Black and queer women at risk of violence akin to the lynching of Emmett Till.

Images from July 28, 2026, show Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever shooting a free throw during a game against the Seattle Storm at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington.

Duncan's stance reflects ongoing divisions among sports figures and commentators, with some accused of harboring resentment toward Clark's success.

"Treating every single woman in this league with the same amount of respect, I think, it's just a basic human thing that everybody should do," Duncan added.

Sources