Caitlin Clark has been changing the landscape of women’s basketball. There is no doubt about that fact. Everyone involved with the sport agrees in one voice. Yet, that in itself seems to be the reason why the Indiana Fever rookie has a target on her back. The ex-Iowa phenom has received comments laced with hate in a roundabout way from WNBA greats like Breanna Stewart and Sheryl Swoopes, as well as A’ja Wilson.

But it looks like the NBA greats have her back. LeBron James was one of the first to showcase his unabashed support for her in the midst of such a scenario. And now, Clark has got Charles Barkley also up in arms to support her. In the latest instance, LeBron James was heard calling out Caitlin’s WNBA peers for their pettiness. “What she’s accomplished, give her her flowers, man! Stop being petty all you women out there!” he said.

Chuck did not waste any time agreeing with LeBron James, saying, “Y’all petty, girls!”

It’s understandable when fans go off the rails based on a bad game, a statement, or even a word. But to have all-time greats of the sport rain down on a rising superstar seems a little over the top. Stewart believed that to be considered an all-time great truly, one must have won a national championship. Women’s basketball legend, Lynette Woodard, was adamant that Clark did not break her scoring record.

Why Lynette Woodard was so against Caitlin Clark

Woodard’s claims stemmed from two aspects. One, the NCAA back then did not recognize women’s athletics, thus she didn’t receive the recognition she deserved for her brilliant contributions. Two, the Kansas Jayhawks phenom thrived at a time when even the women used men’s basketball and 2-point shots made all the difference.

Yet, when Iowa invited the 64-year-old to a game at the Carver-Hawkeye arena, Lynette had a different outlook. “I don’t think Lynette Woodard would have had this moment without Caitlin Clark, so I’ve gotta give it right back to her,” she had said then. Basketball is a constantly evolving sport. What these all-time greats have done is lay the foundation. And when a foundation is laid, there has to be development.

USA Today via Reuters

Clark said as much when she scored the final point during the Hawkeyes’ 108-60 win over Minnesota in late February, which gave her 3,650 points (Woodard had 3,649). “I think it just speaks to the foundation that these players have laid for us … I wouldn’t have the opportunity to be able to do what I’m doing every single night if it wasn’t for people like her,” she said.

It is as simple as that. The de facto measure of greatness now wouldn’t be the same, in say, 20-25 years from now. If it was 2-point shots during Woodard’s era, three-point shots are all the rage now. And it will continue so until a new development takes place. As for all the hate flowing toward Clark’s way, well, there isn’t much she can do other than turn a deaf ear or use it as motivation to go forward.

The fact of the matter, though, remains unchanged – Caitlin Clark is the key to the makeover of the WNBA.