The ongoing saga between media personalities and Caitlin Clark has taken another frustrating turn. This time, former ESPN host Elle Duncan has stepped up to the plate with some seriously misguided criticism of the WNBA superstar. And frankly, she owes Clark an apology.
During a recent appearance on The Sports Gossip Show podcast, Duncan demanded that Clark publicly denounce the hateful messages and comments that allegedly come from her fanbase. Duncan, who once helmed ESPN's women's basketball coverage, seems to think Clark hasn't done enough to distance herself from the toxic elements that sometimes attach themselves to her stardom.
“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 (expletive), 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 said on the podcast. “That’s not true. The media highlights the stories, and they show it, but at the same time, like, the media did not make up that members of Congress are trying to get literal government intervention into whether you get fouled too hard. Like, this stuff has to stop.”
But here's the thing: Clark has spoken out. Multiple times. In 2024, she said, “People should not be using my name to push those agendas. It’s disappointing. It’s not acceptable.” And just this summer, she added, “The harassment, the hate, none of that is acceptable.”
So what more does Duncan want? Does she expect Clark to be on social media 24/7, responding to every troll and misguided fan? That's not only unrealistic—it's unfair. Clark is a 24-year-old athlete trying to win a championship, not a PR machine for every fringe element that claims to support her.
Clark has also addressed the toll this constant scrutiny takes on her. In an interview with ESPN, she said, “I think a lot of it is not always based in reality. I feel like media and journalism have a responsibility to tell the stories, and a lot of the time you guys are the ones controlling the narratives about what people read and what people talk about. And a lot of that is sometimes so far out of touch with what is reality. And that can be confusing to somebody that’s 24 and trying to navigate life and trying to help her team win a championship.”
Instead of acknowledging Clark's repeated condemnations, Duncan and others like her keep moving the goalposts. It's a classic case of moving the goalposts—nothing Clark says will ever be enough for her critics. This isn't about accountability; it's about piling on a young star who's already dealing with immense pressure.
This isn't the first time media members have been called out for their treatment of Clark. Earlier this year, WNBA media was blasted for dodging Clark questions at All-Star Weekend, and Jemele Hill has also slammed Clark for avoiding tough questions. The pattern is clear: Clark can't win no matter what she does.
At some point, the responsibility has to shift. Clark has done her part—she's spoken out against hate, she's condemned the toxicity, and she's tried to focus on her game. The media, including Duncan, needs to stop demanding more and start acknowledging what's already been said.
So, Elle Duncan, it's time to apologize. Not just to Clark, but to the fans who see through this manufactured controversy. Clark has been clear, consistent, and classy in her responses. The least Duncan can do is recognize that and move on.
