Caitlin Clark smilingCaitlin Clark (Photo via Imagn Images)
However, not everyone is thrilled about how ESPN is handling the broadcast. Many fans expected Caitlin Clark’s historic preseason debut to get full, uninterrupted coverage — instead of being wrapped around heavy studio segments and panel discussions. On social media, some accused the network of trying too hard to push narratives instead of focusing on Clark’s on-court performance. Others simply voiced frustration that her first game back in Iowa should have been treated as a bigger standalone event. With fan anticipation at a fever pitch, expectations for how ESPN covers Clark moving forward are higher than ever.

Caitlin Clark enthusiasts are unhappy with an ESPN decision ahead of the network’s broadcast of the sharpshooter’s first preseason game.

Clark and the Indiana Fever will play an exhibition fixture against the Brazil women’s national team this Sunday. The Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa will host the contest.

Given that Clark made her name in Iowa, playing for the Hawkeyes, the game will draw plenty of eyes and will mark a homecoming of sorts for the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer.

Caitlin led the Hawkeyes to back-to-back national title games, though she couldn’t fire them to a title. Even so, she cemented her legacy as one of the greatest college athletes ever and went No. 1 overall in the draft last year.

ESPN announced on Friday that it will air an episode of ‘WNBA Countdown’ featuring Malika Andrews, Chiney Ogwumike, Andraya Carter, and Monica McNutt an hour before, while Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, and Holly Rowe will cover the actual game.

 

Fans Don’t Expect ‘WNBA Countdown’ Panel To Have Anything Good To Say About Caitlin Clark

Caitlin ClarkCaitlin Clark (Photo via Imagn Images)

Fans don’t appear all that pleased with the announcement as they expect the ‘WNBA Countdown’ panel to spew negativity about the second-year Fever star.

“You got all Clark haters on the wnba countdown,” one wrote in the comments.

“Great more Malika Andrews now on WNBA Countdown. She is terrible and needs to be fired,” another declared.

“yuck get those ladies out, im sick of em,” offered a third.

“Get a better crew for the countdown but keep Andrews. Also zero diversity on the countdown crew very disgraceful,” a user claimed.

As for Clark, she’s looking forward to going back to Iowa as she’s only returned a few times since leaving college.

“I honestly haven’t been back to Iowa City a ton since I left a year ago now,” she said. “Only been back a couple times, once for a football game and once for my jersey retirement. So it’ll be fun to get back there, see some of my former teammates, my friends that are there, a lot of my family will be coming. I know they’re excited.”

The game between Indiana and the Brazil national team will tip off at 4:00 p.m. ET.