‘YOU BIG DUMMIES’: LEGEND CHERYL MILLER EXPLODES, EXPOSES CHERYL SWOOPES’ BASELESS CAMPAIGN AGAINST CAITLIN CLARK AND THE WNBA’S TOXIC ISOLATION

In the increasingly fractured landscape of women’s professional basketball, where the meteoric rise of Caitlin Clark has been met with a bizarre mix of admiration and overt hostility, a true icon of the sport has finally stepped into the fray to deliver a definitive, verbal knockout blow. Cheryl Miller, a revered Hall of Famer, two-time national champion, and a figure whose legacy in the game is beyond reproach, publicly and fiercely dismantled the months-long, relentless campaign of criticism waged by former rival legend, Cheryl Swoopes.

Appearing on the “All the Smoke” podcast, Miller did not mince words. She called Clark’s critics, including Swoopes, “big dummies” for failing to grasp the immense, league-elevating economic impact of the Indiana Fever rookie. More powerfully, Miller exposed the human and emotional toll of the relentless scrutiny, revealing a deeply isolated and besieged Clark who admitted she felt “hit from all directions.” Miller’s intervention is more than a defense of a young star; it is an unforgiving exposé of the toxic culture and baseless narratives festering within a league struggling to reconcile its past struggles with an unprecedented, sudden boom in popularity and revenue.

The Anatomy of the Attack: Dismantling Baseless Myths
The source of the conflict has long been Cheryl Swoopes’ persistent, factually incorrect, and often deeply personal attacks on Clark, stretching back to the latter’s college days at Iowa. Swoopes’ commentary transcended constructive criticism, evolving instead into a relentless series of baseless myths that attempted to diminish Clark’s historic achievements.

Perhaps the most egregious and easily debunked claim was Swoopes’ assertion that Clark was unfairly dominating college competition because she was supposedly “25 years old playing against 20 year olds.” Miller, with the cold clarity of factual data, exposed the absurdity of this claim: Clark was only 22, completing her final year of eligibility, just like countless other college seniors. Swoopes’ scramble to justify this falsehood—insisting it was merely a hyperbole related to COVID-19 eligibility rules—was a flimsy excuse that evaporated upon scrutiny.

Swoopes continued her assault by attempting to frame Clark as a selfish “ball-hogging volume shooter,” alleging the rookie took an average of “40 shots per contest.” Again, the facts speak for themselves: Clark averaged a far more reasonable and efficient 22.7 shots per game in her final college season. The irony was palpable: Swoopes herself averaged 19.2 shots per game in her senior season. The critique was less about statistics and more about a desperate attempt to create a negative narrative. When Clark approached the all-time NCAA scoring record, Swoopes suggested she would only achieve it by taking an illegitimate fifth year—a claim Clark immediately disproved by entering the WNBA draft after her fourth year, a move that only magnified her legend.

Even after Clark entered the WNBA, shattering rookie assist records and proving herself as a formidable playmaker—averaging a league-leading 8.4 assists along with 19.2 points—Swoopes continued to claim that neither Clark nor Angel Reese were dominating, conveniently ignoring Clark’s quantifiable, immediate, and measurable impact on every facet of the league’s economic health.

The Emotional Bond: Miller’s Lifeline
Miller’s power in this debate stems from more than just her Hall of Fame credentials; it comes from having coached Clark firsthand during the 2025 WNBA All-Star game. This up-close perspective allowed her to bypass the misleading media narratives and witness the truth of Clark’s character and talent. Miller confessed she was “pleased and proud to see the narrative” of the critics proven false.

Crucially, Miller’s defense wasn’t purely statistical; it was deeply emotional. She recalled the immense, crushing pressure Clark faced during the early, turbulent days of her rookie season, especially following the Fever’s first victory. It was a moment of release and vulnerability that provided Miller with a rare window into Clark’s internal struggle.

Miller described sharing a powerful hug with the rookie after that first win, a moment that transcended a simple exchange between a player and a coach. She recalled Clark’s desperate, heart-wrenching reaction: “Oh man, finally someone who’s on my side.” Clark went on to reveal she was “getting hit from all directions,” confirming the immense sense of isolation and hostility she felt from the WNBA establishment and media. Miller, drawing on her own experience of being an exceptional talent in a historically complicated environment, admitted, “I can relate to that young lady and I felt for her. I know what it’s like to be hated.”

This profound emotional connection highlights the core problem: Clark, the most significant figure in the WNBA’s history, felt despised by a community that should have been celebrating her arrival. Miller’s advice to Clark was a crucial emotional lifeline: “Savor this… but keep being you. No matter what.”

The Economic Idiocy and the Price of Resentment
The strongest element of Miller’s explosive commentary was her direct and furious rebuttal of the financial shortsightedness exhibited by Clark’s critics. Miller was unambiguous in her disdain for those who fail to connect Clark’s presence with the league’s newfound prosperity, telling the veteran critics: “Come on, you big dummies. You getting paid now.”

This statement goes to the heart of the matter. Clark’s arrival has resulted in:

Massive Viewership Spikes: Unprecedented ratings that benefit every network and every broadcast partner.

Increased Ticket Sales: Selling out arenas and forcing venue upgrades, which drives gate revenue.

Higher Salaries: The influx of capital directly contributes to the league’s financial stability and ability to pay all players more.

The veterans who complain about her fame, yet benefit directly from the money she brings, are, in Miller’s view, practicing an act of economic self-destruction. In professional sports, a rising tide is meant to lift all boats, yet the WNBA old guard appears determined to sink the golden ship simply because they weren’t the captain.

Miller also provided genuine basketball insight, moving past the scoring metrics that dominate headlines. She admitted that she “didn’t know how talented she was and how well she sees the game in a 3D version,” praising Clark’s exceptional court vision and passing ability, elements often overlooked by critics obsessed with volume shooting. Miller also gave credit to Clark’s defense, noting the rookie was “defensively a lot better than I thought.” This balanced praise from a legend undercuts the entire narrative that Clark is merely an overrated scorer who lacks the all-around game for the professional level.

The Call for Change: Beyond the Court

Cheryl Miller’s uncompromising defense serves as a powerful call to action for the WNBA. Her words—infused with the weight of her Hall of Fame status—demand that the league address the underlying toxicity that allows baseless narratives to thrive and star players to feel isolated. The hostility Clark has faced, from cheap shots on the court to constant, unfounded public criticism, creates an unwelcoming atmosphere that threatens the long-term sustainability of the WNBA’s boom.

Miller’s intervention is a landmark moment. It confirms that the greatest threat to the WNBA’s future is not competition from other leagues, but its own internal, festering resentment. By publicly shaming the critics and providing an authentic, emotional account of Clark’s struggle, Miller has given the rookie the shield she needed and delivered the truth the league desperately needed to hear. The time for baseless jealousy and “big dummy” logic is over. The only way forward is to embrace the prosperity Clark brings and ensure the environment is one of genuine professional respect and shared financial success, or risk becoming the league that sabotaged its own destiny.