Ex-ESPN anchor is slammed for contradicting herself on Caitlin Clark

Former ESPN anchor Jemele Hill has fumed over ‘irresponsible’ reports about Caitlin Clark causing WNBA ratings to plummet – despite appearing to agree with them.

Hill sparked confusion on social media with her bizarre rant about Clark, who generated unprecedented attention for women’s basketball before her rookie season in the WNBA came to an end last week.

A record audience of 2.54 million tuned in to watch the Indiana Fever’s decisive playoff defeat to the Connecticut Sun, while a previous record of 1.84 million watched the first game of the series on September 22.

Yet with Clark and Indiana no longer in the competition, the first weekend of WNBA playoff games without them failed to drum up the same interest, with only 1.57 million watching both semifinal ties combined.

Despite the numbers demonstrating how popular the 22-year-old is, Hill took issue with ‘irresponsible’ headlines which merely state facts.

Former ESPN anchor Jemele Hill has fumed over ‘irresponsible’ reports about Caitlin Clark

The sports journalist shared a post on X about Sunday’s playoff game between the Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty being the most watched WNBA semifinal for 22 years and said: ‘And yet I keep seeing irresponsible headlines claiming the WNBA playoffs are down because of no Caitlin Clark.

‘Would the ratings be higher if she were in it? Of course. But guess what, a Finals would rate higher if it were Lebron vs Steph. Or, if big market teams were in the mix.

‘So what? That’s the headline.’

Fans were quick to accuse Hill of contradicting herself after she admitted viewing figures would be higher if Clark was still in the playoffs.

One wrote: ‘Starts the post by stating the claim is false….follows up by stating the claim is true – Interesting approach’.

Another posted: ‘You literally just contradicted yourself. First sentence you say it’s irresponsible to say that ratings are down because CC isn’t playing, but right after you say that ratings would be higher if she were In it.

Hill sparked confusion online with her bizarre rant about Clark impacting WNBA ratings

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That is despite the Indiana Fever rookie’s playoff exit causing viewing figures to plummet

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A record WNBA audience of 2.54 million tuned in for Clark and the Fever’s loss to the Sun

‘So if ratings would be higher if she was in the Semis then that means ratings dropped because she’s not in it.’

‘This is idiotic,’ said a third. ‘The ratings are down . Not irresponsible just a fact. The WNBA is nothing without Clark.’

‘Isn’t that The point? She’s Michael Jordan or LeBron or Steph, try folks are trying to bring her down and treat her like she’s Jamal Tinsley…’ a fourth user commented.

While one simply replied: ‘The numbers don’t lie.’

The first semifinal showdown between the New York Liberty and the Las Vegas Aces – two of the league’s most popular and successful teams – drew an audience of just 929,000, according to ESPN (via Fox News).

That figure is 50 per cent down on the Fever’s Game 1 against the Sun, which also had an NFL Sunday to compete with.

Nevertheless, while it is no match for the numbers generated by Clark, the Liberty and the Aces’ opening semifinal battle actually brought in more viewers than any of last season’s finals games between the two teams.

One wrote: ‘Starts the post by stating the claim is false….follows up by stating the claim is true – Interesting approach’.

Another posted: ‘You literally just contradicted yourself. First sentence you say it’s irresponsible to say that ratings are down because CC isn’t playing, but right after you say that ratings would be higher if she were In it.

Hill sparked confusion online with her bizarre rant about Clark impacting WNBA ratings

That is despite the Indiana Fever rookie’s playoff exit causing viewing figures to plummet

A record WNBA audience of 2.54 million tuned in for Clark and the Fever’s loss to the Sun

So if ratings would be higher if she was in the Semis then that means ratings dropped because she’s not in it.’

‘This is idiotic,’ said a third. ‘The ratings are down . Not irresponsible just a fact. The WNBA is nothing without Clark.’

‘Isn’t that The point? She’s Michael Jordan or LeBron or Steph, try folks are trying to bring her down and treat her like she’s Jamal Tinsley…’ a fourth user commented.

While one simply replied: ‘The numbers don’t lie.’

The first semifinal showdown between the New York Liberty and the Las Vegas Aces – two of the league’s most popular and successful teams – drew an audience of just 929,000, according to ESPN (via Fox News).

That figure is 50 per cent down on the Fever’s Game 1 against the Sun, which also had an NFL Sunday to compete with.

Nevertheless, while it is no match for the numbers generated by Clark, the Liberty and the Aces’ opening semifinal battle actually brought in more viewers than any of last season’s finals games between the two teams.

The first semifinal showdown between the Liberty and the Aces was watched by just 929,000

Meanwhile, Game 1 of the Minnesota Lynx and the Connecticut Sun’s semifinal had an audience of roughly 650,000.

Both of the semifinal games also fell significantly below a number of Clark’s regular season games in terms of viewership; with the Fever’s clash against the Lynx raking in 1.26 million viewers last month.

That game was also played on the same night and at the same time as a Week 1 NFL showdown between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Green Bay Packers.