Women&#8217;s basketball star <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/caitlin-clark">Caitlin Clark</a> has reportedly landed a historic shoe contract with Nike.
Clark is in line to sign an eight-year deal after the shoe company offered the women’s basketball star $28 million and a signature shoe, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/sports/basketball/caitlin-clark-nike-deal-415ee8ec?st=jt8jyb6zzw9snx3&amp;reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Wall Street Journal</a> reported.
Negotiations between Clark and athletic companies such as Puma, Nike, Under Armour, and Adidas began in February and reportedly got pretty intense, according to the outlet. Reps for Clark from Excel Sports Management allegedly made it clear they weren&#8217;t taking offers that amounted to less than $3 million a year.
Puma reportedly thought that request was too high and walked away from negotiations. The brand already has a deal with Breanna Stewart of the New York Liberty, which includes her own signature shoe.
At the time, Clark had yet to announce her plans to enter the WNBA draft and several companies reportedly made their offer based on her remaining at the University of Iowa and playing for the Hawkeyes one more year.
“She played herself into a position where it wasn’t even contingent on staying in college,” someone familiar with the deals told the outlet. “People just wanted her.”
The WSJ noted that some shoe executives were surprised by how well-prepared Clark and her reps were during a Zoom call.
 Adidas offered the basketball star $6 million over four years, but with the offer being so far off the mark, that left Under Armour, who came in with a $16 million offer over four years and her own signature shoe, WSJ noted.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
In just one hour, Fanatics has completely sold out of Caitlin Clark&#8217;s Fever jersey in sizes XS, M, L, XL, and XXL, per <a href="https://twitter.com/darrenrovell?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@darrenrovell</a> <a href="https://t.co/KPzpckeQgh">pic.twitter.com/KPzpckeQgh</a>
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheDunkCentral/status/1780060114185064590?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2024</a></blockquote>
However, Nike&#8217;s offer would be record-setting for women&#8217;s basketball, giving Clark another shot at breaking a record, WSJ noted.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/former-nba-star-paul-pierce-was-only-impressed-by-caitlin-clark-after-she-beat-a-bunch-of-black-girls">Clark</a> recently set a new record when she went <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/39951045/indiana-fever-select-iowa-caitlin-clark-top-pick-2024-wnba-draft">number one</a> overall in the 2024 WNBA draft to the Indiana Fever, and afterward her new jersey shot to the top of Fanatics — the official online retailer for the league, <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2024/04/16/caitlin-clark-indiana-fever-jersey-history-fanatics-wnba/">TMZ</a> reported.
The sports site said it put up preorders for her No. 22 jersey — which sold out and has become the top-selling draft pick jersey in the company’s history across all sports, the outlet noted.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/caitlin-clark-breaks-ncaa-scoring-record-set-by-pistol-pete-maravich">Clark</a> previously became the top scorer in NCAA basketball history.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/caitlin-clark-breaks-record-for-jersey-sales" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Caitlin Clark Breaks Record For Jersey Sales</a>

Caitlin Clark

Caitlin Clark Lands Historic Shoe Contract: Report

Basketball

Iowa

NCAA

Nike

Sports

U.S.

WNBA

Indy Star columnist Gregg Doyel is back in the spotlight after a second uncomfortable exchange surfaced involving newly drafted WNBA star <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/caitlin-clark" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Caitlin Clark</a>.
In the clip posted on <a href="https://x.com/SHEscoresbanger/status/1780720186816974929">X</a> from the Indiana Fever press conference, Doyel was asking questions directed to the team’s coach Christie Sides about drafting Clark, referring to the NCAA basketball star as “that” and “it” while she’s sitting next to the coach.
“You were just given the keys to that,” Doyel said to Sides. “What are you going to do with it?”
Earlier in the week, a <a href="https://x.com/JackMacCFB/status/1780658279565213892">clip</a> of Doyel speaking to Clark at the same press conference went viral in which the columnist has a cringe-worthy moment with the basketball star after giving her a heart sign gesture with his hands, something Clark does at games.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Gregg Doyle had second exchange that would also be categorized as&#8230;creepy.
GD to the Fever coach Christie Sides: &#8220;You just got the keys to THAT, what are you gonna do with IT?&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/2fyWLTMj6y">pic.twitter.com/2fyWLTMj6y</a>
— SHE scores bangers (@SHEscoresbanger) <a href="https://twitter.com/SHEscoresbanger/status/1780720186816974929?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2024</a></blockquote>
“You like that?” Clark asked, and Doyel replied, “I like that you’re here.”
She then explained, “Yeah, I do that at my family after every game.” And Doyel said to the young star, “OK, well listen, start doing it to me and we&#8217;ll get along just fine.”
People on social media slammed the columnist for the comments, the <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/college-basketball/article-13329013/wnba-caitlin-clark-gregg-doyel-indianapolis-star.html">Daily Mail</a> reported. Doyel then issued an <a href="https://x.com/GreggDoyelStar/status/1780735900000866690">apology</a> for his “uniquely oafish way, while welcoming Caitlin Clark to Indy.&#8221;
“I formed my hands into her signature,” the reporter wrote on X. “My comment afterward was clumsy and awkward. I sincerely apologize. Please know my heart (literally and figuratively) was well-intentioned. I will do better.”
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He later wrote a <a href="https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/columnists/gregg-doyel/2024/04/17/caitlin-clark-im-so-sorry-on-wednesday-i-was-part-of-the-problem/73364922007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">column</a> in the Indy Star titled, “Doyel: Caitlin Clark, I&#8217;m so sorry. On Wednesday I was part of the problem.”
&#8220;I’m devastated to realize I’m part of the problem,” Doyel wrote. “I screwed up Wednesday during my first interaction with No. 1 overall draft pick Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever.”
“What I’ve learned is that I need to be more aware about how I talk to people – not just athletes,” he added. “I realized that only after my exchange with Clark went viral and I navigated the first two stages of grief during a discussion with the people I care about the most.”
“In my haste to be clever, to be familiar and welcoming (or so I thought), I offended Caitlin and her family,&#8221; Doyel continued. &#8220;After going through denial, and then anger&#8230;I now realize what I said and how I said it was wrong, wrong, wrong. I mean it was just wrong. Caitlin Clark, I’m so sorry.&#8221;
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/former-nba-star-paul-pierce-was-only-impressed-by-caitlin-clark-after-she-beat-a-bunch-of-black-girls" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Former NBA Star Paul Pierce Was Only Impressed By Caitlin Clark After She &#8216;Beat A Bunch Of Black Girls&#8217;</a>

Ohio State v Iowa

Second ‘Creepy’ Exchange Surfaces Involving Caitlin Clark And A Member Of The Press

Second 'Creepy' Exchange Surfaces Involving Caitlin Clark And A Member Of The Press

Entertainment

General

News

Daily Wire host <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/show/the-andrew-klavan-show" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Andrew Klavan</a> sat down with political commentator Megyn Kelly on her eponymous <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-megyn-kelly-show/id1532976305" target="_blank" rel="noopener">podcast</a> Wednesday to discuss a range of topics, including the recent outrage from the Left over women’s basketball star Caitlin Clark&#8217;s rookie salary.
Clark, who became the all-time leading scorer in NCAA basketball during her senior season at Iowa, was selected No. 1 overall in the WNBA draft earlier this week, and many on social media — all the way up to the White House — took issue with Clark’s contract compared to what rookie NBA stars make. Kelly began the segment by quoting a social media post by President Joe Biden, who <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1780354983457644819" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a> in part, “Even if you&#8217;re the best, women are not paid their fair share.”
“First of all, who the hell wants to hear from this White House — which is allowing and trying to make it more expansive for boys to play against girls in women’s sports — about fairness, right?” Kelly asked, before describing the controversy over Clark’s four-year $338,000 contract compared to last year’s NBA first-overall draft pick Victor Wembanyama, who <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/sports/gap-caitlin-clarks-wnba-salary-male-counterparts-draws-outrage-rcna148024" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signed</a> a four-year $55 million contract.
“They’re not paying these guys in the NBA that much money because they love throwing their money away; they’re paying it because that’s how much money they’re bringing in,” Klavan said. “That’s how capitalism works. If you’re bringing in the money, you get paid for what you do.”
“And listen, Caitlin Clark is a wonderful athlete,” the Daily Wire host continued. “In fact, her college championship game was watched more than the men’s championship game, and if she can do that in the WNBA, believe me, she’ll be earning that kind of money when she re-negotiates her contract.”
Klavan said that paying Clark similar to what NBA players make wouldn’t work with the economics of the WNBA as the NBA brings in roughly 100x the revenue of the professional women&#8217;s league. The author of “The House of Love and Death” added that the debate over WNBA players’ salaries highlights deep hypocrisy from the Left.
“The Left started out by saying to us, ‘There’s no difference between men and women. We have to treat them exactly equally.’ And now they’re saying there’s so little difference that a man can be a woman, and if you say that a man can’t be a woman and play sports at another level in the women’s game, you’re being somehow bigoted,” Klavan remarked.
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“The entire thing is genuinely an attack on women,” he continued. “It genuinely is a hatred of women. And I really do believe this, by the way: I believe the Left despises women at their core for the simple reason that the things that women do occur in a different moral structure than the things that men do.”
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Should We Be Outraged Caitlin Clark Isn&#039;t Making Much Money in the WNBA? With Andrew Klavan" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bYuKethHQK0?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
&nbsp;

Megyn Kelly/Andrew Klavan

Andrew Klavan, Megyn Kelly Call Out Hypocrisy Of Leftists Enraged With Caitlin Clark’s Salary: ‘The Left Despises Women At Their Core’

Andrew Klavan

Media

Megyn Kelly

Politics

Women's sports

NCAA basketball superstar <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/former-nba-star-paul-pierce-was-only-impressed-by-caitlin-clark-after-she-beat-a-bunch-of-black-girls">Caitlin Clark</a> has set a new record, giving her the top top-selling jersey ever for a draft pick across all sports.
On Monday, the former Iowa Hawkeyes star went <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/39951045/indiana-fever-select-iowa-caitlin-clark-top-pick-2024-wnba-draft">number one</a> in overall picks in the 2024 WNBA draft to the Indiana Fever — and shortly afterward, her new jersey shot to the top of Fanatics — the official online retailer for the league, <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2024/04/16/caitlin-clark-indiana-fever-jersey-history-fanatics-wnba/">TMZ</a> reported.
The sports site said it put up preorders for her No. 22 jersey and they not only sold out, but her WNBA jersey is now the top-selling draft pick in the company&#8217;s history across all sports, the outlet noted.
A jersey sales record is just one more accomplishment for <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/caitlin-clark-breaks-ncaa-scoring-record-set-by-pistol-pete-maravich">Clark</a>, the former NCAA star who became the top scorer in both women and men’s college basketball history, the outlet noted.
After being drafted, Clark spoke to “<a href="https://twitter.com/GMA/status/1780211259213762707" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Good Morning America</a>” about how she’s ready for the pros.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
In just one hour, Fanatics has completely sold out of Caitlin Clark&#8217;s Fever jersey in sizes XS, M, L, XL, and XXL, per <a href="https://twitter.com/darrenrovell?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@darrenrovell</a> <a href="https://t.co/KPzpckeQgh">pic.twitter.com/KPzpckeQgh</a>
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheDunkCentral/status/1780060114185064590?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2024</a></blockquote>
&#8220;I always believed in myself,&#8221; Clark said. &#8220;Also I worked really hard for it. I think that&#8217;s what I&#8217;m really proud of is like, I earned it. I deserve it. Nothing was ever given to me. More than anything just believe in myself.&#8221;
&#8220;That&#8217;s what I&#8217;m trying to take to the next level,” she added.
Speaking to <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/39951045/indiana-fever-select-iowa-caitlin-clark-top-pick-2024-wnba-draft">ESPN</a> after being drafted, Clark noted how excited she is for the new challenge of playing in the WNBA, as she gets ready to join last year&#8217;s No. 1 overall pick, Aliyah Boston.
&#8220;For myself, I can&#8217;t imagine a more perfect fit, a better place for me to start my professional career, an organization that really just believes in women&#8217;s basketball and wants to do everything the right way,” Clark said. “So I couldn&#8217;t be more excited to get there.&#8221;
&#8220;Going to an organization that has, in my eyes, one of the best post players in the entire world. My point guard eyes just light up at that,&#8221; she added of Boston. &#8220;My biggest job is I&#8217;m just feeding Aliyah the ball every single day. That&#8217;s what I&#8217;m going to do. I&#8217;m going to be in there and be like, go make a layup. She&#8217;s going to make my life easy.&#8221;
&#8220;I&#8217;m 22 years old, and I don&#8217;t have all the answers in the world,&#8221; Clark continued. &#8220;This is something new to me &#8230; That&#8217;s something I&#8217;m excited for. But having those type of people around me to lean on and ask questions, or when things get hard, to be there for me.&#8221;

Caitlin Clark Breaks Record For Jersey Sales

It would appear that not even <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/joe-biden" target="_blank" rel="noopener">President Joe Biden</a> cares about the WNBA. The commander-in-chief invited the 2022 reigning champions, the Las Vegas Aces, to a White House ceremony hosted by him and his wife, only to ditch the event altogether in order to stay on an extended vacation.
On July 17, the president and first lady Jill Biden extended an invitation to the WNBA team. At the time, team president Nikki Fargas told a <a href="https://twitter.com/RNCResearch/status/1695146431412404699?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">local ABC affiliate</a> that her team was &#8220;excited and honored&#8221; to attend.
&#8220;I know that all of our players and front office staff who worked so hard to help build that championship team and elevate this franchise will enjoy taking part in the festivities,&#8221; Fargas stated.
As previous players have attested, meeting the leader of the free world is the icing on the cake for their hard work. Well, bad news for Fargas and the gals from Vegas — they got stuck with Vice President Kamala Harris and second husband Doug Emhoff.
Fox News&#8217; Peter Doocy reported that the podium was instead displaying the vice president&#8217;s seal rather than the president&#8217;s seal as expected.
&#8220;When they initially announced this event, it said the president and the first lady were going to host the Aces today, but then they extended their vacation, they were supposed to get back yesterday,&#8221; he explained. &#8220;Now they don&#8217;t get back until tomorrow, so that is how you wind up getting feted at the White House by the vice president, instead of by the president. We don&#8217;t know what he&#8217;s doing today, but his motorcade is on the move somewhere in the South Lake Tahoe area.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
FOX: Joe Biden and Jill, Ed.D., were originally supposed to host the 2022 WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces at the White House today — but he decided to extend his vacation even longer, so they got Kamala and Doug instead <a href="https://t.co/M4vIRp3dqG">pic.twitter.com/M4vIRp3dqG</a>
&mdash; RNC Research (@RNCResearch) <a href="https://twitter.com/RNCResearch/status/1695146431412404699?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 25, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Biden&#8217;s vacation, of course, was interrupted by the Hawaiian wildfire that killed nearly 200 people with hundreds more missing. He ventured to Maui, only to compare the tragedy to a time he almost lost his Corvette in a small kitchen fire. He also joked about how hot the ground was. And that was after he ignored the situation altogether for nearly 14 days.
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So, because he had to actually do his job for one day, it seems Biden felt the need to take an extra day of PTO.
It is unclear how the Aces really felt about Biden&#8217;s diss, but one has to imagine they are a little disappointed. As horrible as Biden is, nobody ever likes being stood up for an event.
Sending Harris in his place is only adding insult to injury. She isn&#8217;t exactly the most dignified elected official in American history.
In the words of former President Donald J. Trump, &#8220;she speaks in rhyme.&#8221;
&#8220;She has bad moments,&#8221; he recently told Tucker Carlson. &#8220;The way she talks. &#8216;The bus will go here and then the bus will go there because that&#8217;s what buses do.&#8217; It&#8217;s weird. The whole thing is weird.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Donald Trump Calls Kamala Harris Weird: &quot;She Speaks in Rhyme&quot;
&quot;She has bad moments. The way she talks. &#39;The bus will go here and then the bus will go there because that&#39;s what buses do.&#39; It&#39;s weird. The whole thing is weird.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/mnnN5cErCA">pic.twitter.com/mnnN5cErCA</a>
&mdash; The Vigilant Fox 🦊 (@VigilantFox) <a href="https://twitter.com/VigilantFox/status/1694526642104738264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
So, what will she say to the WNBA players? &#8220;The Aces are tall, they shoot the ball, because that&#8217;s what the Aces do.&#8221;
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Kamala Harris, Biden

Biden Ditches Hosting WNBA Champs For Vacation, Leaves Them With Kamala Harris

Executive

Joe Biden

Kamala Harris

White House

Enes Kanter Freedom suggested on Tuesday that he ought to put on a wig, change his name to &#8220;Enisha,&#8221; and try out for the WNBA in order to force the league&#8217;s hand when it came to the acceptance of trans-identifying athletes.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ex-nba-player-enes-kanter-freedom-to-run-for-political-office" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Freedom</a> spoke with &#8220;America&#8217;s Newsroom&#8221; anchors Bill Hemmer and Dana Perino about the issue, suggesting that people might finally wake up and be outraged when they saw a biological male not only taking a team spot from a biological female but <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/riley-gaines-blows-up-claims-she-used-lia-thomas-tie-to-boost-media-career" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dominating</a> in professional <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mediocre-lift-by-a-mediocre-male-man-claiming-womanhood-slammed-after-breaking-womens-powerlifting-record" target="_blank" rel="noopener">women&#8217;s sports</a>.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Enes Kanter Freedom floats idea of throwing on a wig, renaming himself &quot;Eneshia,&quot; and claiming he&#39;s a woman to force the WNBA to sign him to make an anti-trans athlete statement.
&quot;Maybe I should do it and it will show my point, actually. I will average 60 points.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/IODvvEgoVy">pic.twitter.com/IODvvEgoVy</a>
&mdash; Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) <a href="https://twitter.com/justinbaragona/status/1691467132192555008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Would that be fair?&#8221; Freedom asked. &#8220;I am seven foot, two hundred and seventy pounds, and if I decided to identify myself as a woman and decided to play WNBA, put on a wig and I change my name to — just say Enisha — would that be fair to all the women, you know, who were chasing their dreams since they were a little kid?&#8221;
&#8220;Where are all the women&#8217;s rights activists?&#8221; he continued. &#8220;Where are all the feminists? &#8230; It&#8217;s just very interesting why this should even be a debate.&#8221;
Freedom doubled down on his comments with an X post featuring a photo of himself, clearly photoshopped, wearing a wig and a smile.
&#8220;I&#8217;m identifying myself as a woman! Lol,&#8221; he posted. &#8220;From now on y&#8217;all can call me ENISHA Freedom. I&#8217;m 7 foot and 270 pounds biological male who wants to compete in women sports. Hey, @WNBA, are you hiring?&#8221;
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
I’m identifying myself as a woman! Lol
From now on y’all can call me ENISHA Freedom. I’m 7 foot and 270 pounds biological male who wants to compete in women sports. 🤦🏻‍♂️ 
Hey <a href="https://twitter.com/WNBA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WNBA</a>, are you hiring? <a href="https://t.co/vpBgLHS6jR">pic.twitter.com/vpBgLHS6jR</a>
&mdash; Enes FREEDOM (@EnesFreedom) <a href="https://twitter.com/EnesFreedom/status/1691480511082827776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Freedom started the conversation with a post from his X account on Friday, where he made a similar suggestion.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Men don’t belong in women’s spaces. Restrooms &#8211; Locker Rooms or Sports.
Since I’m blackballed from the <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBA</a>, should I put on a wig, identify as a woman and start dominating the <a href="https://twitter.com/WNBA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WNBA</a>?
Is that when the outrage will begin? Is that fair to all the women who spent their whole life…
&mdash; Enes FREEDOM (@EnesFreedom) <a href="https://twitter.com/EnesFreedom/status/1690035714165968896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Men don’t belong in women’s spaces. Restrooms &#8211; Locker Rooms or Sports. Since I’m blackballed from the @NBA, should I put on a wig, identify as a woman and start dominating the @WNBA?&#8221; he posted. &#8220;Is that when the outrage will begin? Is that fair to all the women who spent their whole life chasing their goals? Where are all the Women Rights Activists and Feminists?!&#8221;

The Algemeiner 50th Anniversary J100 Gala

‘Y’all Can Call Me Enisha’: Enes Kanter Freedom Threatens To Don A Wig And Join The WNBA

Enes Kanter Freedom Threatens To Don A Wig And Join The WNBA

Enes Kanter Freedom

Transgender Athletes

A WNBA player called America &#8220;trash,&#8221; took aim at people of faith, and found herself in a social media spat with a senator last week after apparently becoming triggered by a pair of decisions issued by the Supreme Court.
The high court&#8217;s decisions last week ruling affirmative action in college admissions is unconstitutional and that a website designer could not be forced to make products that conflicted with her religious beliefs prompted rage from liberals on social media. Washington Mystics guard Natasha Cloud, who is averaging 11 points per game this season, joined the critics by condemning America.
“Our country is trash in so many ways and instead of using our resources to make it better we continue to oppress Marginalized groups that we have targeted since the beginning of times,” Cloud tweeted. “Black/brown communities&amp; LGBTQ+ man we are too powerful to still be attacking issues separate.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Our country is trash in so many ways and instead of using our resources to make it better we continue to oppress Marginalized groups that we have targeted since the beginning of times. 
Black/brown communities&amp; LGBTQ+ man we are too powerful to still be attacking issues separate
&mdash; Natasha Cloud (@T_Cloud4) <a href="https://twitter.com/T_Cloud4/status/1674800526456922115?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 30, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Florida GOP senator Marco Rubio fired back, “America is a free country so she has the right to call it ‘trash.’ But at least tell us which countries you think are better. For example I bet she isn’t planning any trips to Russia this off-season.”
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America is a free country so she has the right to call it “trash” 
But at least tell us which countries you think are better 
For example I bet she isn’t planning any trips to Russia this off-season <a href="https://t.co/C2VQRVVxVP">https://t.co/C2VQRVVxVP</a>
&mdash; Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) <a href="https://twitter.com/marcorubio/status/1674889992726781953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 30, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Cloud followed her initial tweet by referring to the “inhumane savagery” of Americans and Europeans:
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We need to continue to lead with love and light. The inhumane savagery way is a very American/European ideology. We’re above that. But we do need to fight.
&mdash; Natasha Cloud (@T_Cloud4) <a href="https://twitter.com/T_Cloud4/status/1674803077751140362?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 30, 2023</a></blockquote>
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When someone suggested “Feel free to leave any time,” Cloud responded, “I will be lolol gladly.”
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I will be lolol gladly
&mdash; Natasha Cloud (@T_Cloud4) <a href="https://twitter.com/T_Cloud4/status/1674850668396281866?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 30, 2023</a></blockquote>
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After writing, “Also I need y’all to come up with something better than move to Russia or china. 🤣💀 y’all s*** played out and tired,” Cloud continued with an attack on police:
&#8220;Less police murders, no mass incarceration based on race, adequate minimum wage, rights to my body as a woman, I MEAN I CAN KEEP GOING,&#8221; she wrote. &#8220;Cause these are things that America is capable of…and when I say trash this is what I’m referring to. We choose to allow politicians to line their pockets and spit false and hateful ideologies to pit us against each other. America is a business.&#8221;
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Cause these are things that America is capable of…and when I say trash this is what I’m referring to. We choose to allow politicians to line their pockets and spit false and hateful ideologies to pit us against each other. 
America is a business.
&mdash; Natasha Cloud (@T_Cloud4) <a href="https://twitter.com/T_Cloud4/status/1675149194225483778?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2023</a></blockquote>
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She then took a swipe at religious Americans.
“Religion in this country is political, it’s weaponized, it’s hypocritical, it’s disappointing,&#8221; she wrote. &#8220;It’s not love. Because God is love. In the purest form. Take a good hard look at how y’all live your life in a constant state of hate and judgement. Hypocrisy at its finest.”

WNBA: JUN 28 Commissioner’s Cup – Atlanta Dream at Washington Mystics

WNBA Player Calls America ‘Trash,’ Spars With Senator After SCOTUS Rulings

LGBTQ

Supreme Court

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/nfl">NFL</a> tight end Darren Waller’s wife, Kelsey Plum, made a joke about why her husband was recently <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/football">traded</a> by the Las Vegas Raiders, saying it has to do with the coach not getting an invite to their wedding.
The New York Giants acquired Waller on Tuesday, swapping a third-round draft pick for the Pro Bowler. This could prove challenging for Plum, a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/wnba">WNBA</a> guard for the Las Vegas Aces. These newlyweds just got hitched on March 4.
&#8220;Darren Waller JUST GOT MARRIED to Kelsey Plum of the Las Vegas Aces and Josh McDaniels’ wedding present was to trade him to the New York Giants. McDaniels is NOT a romantic,&#8221; former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III wrote.
“Prolly cause he wasn’t invited to the wedding lol,” Plum replied to that suggestion. 
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Prolly cause he wasn’t invited to the wedding lol <a href="https://t.co/K3i7oW5oe4">https://t.co/K3i7oW5oe4</a>
&mdash; Kelsey Plum (@Kelseyplum10) <a href="https://twitter.com/Kelseyplum10/status/1635816491588407297?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The tweet exchange quickly went viral, with fans reacting with a mix of humor and outrage. As of Wednesday morning, it had more than 11.6 million views.
Plum next posted in her Instagram Stories and shared a screenshot of Griffin’s tweet over a photo of her and Waller on their wedding day.
“Actually couldn’t be better, we’re so excited, NY let’s get it,” the WNBA player <a href="https://nypost.com/2023/03/15/kelsey-plum-reacts-to-darren-waller-giants-trade-after-wedding-drama/">shared</a> with a heart emoji.
Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels drew criticism earlier this month for accidentally revealing news of the wedding while speaking to reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Fox News <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/sports/nfl-stars-wife-hits-back-coach-after-team-trades-him-after-wedding">reported</a>.
Waller was rumored to be upset with McDaniels after several publications picked up the story, including the Las Vegas Review-Journal, which announced the March 4 wedding date on social media. Waller and Plum had intended to keep the nuptial ceremony details private.
Two weeks ago, McDaniels said Waller “will be a big part of what we’re going to do going forward.&#8221; Meanwhile, the NFL Network reported that the Raiders had been shopping him around for more than a year. 
Waller had four years left on his deal with the Raiders after signing a three-year contract extension worth $51 million in September, the publication noted. Now the Giants are only guaranteed to pay him $11 million for the 2023 season since there is an opt-out clause after this year.
Plum, an All-Star guard for the Aces who helped the team win the WNBA title last year, is preparing for the 2023 season, which starts in May.

Inaugural IX Awards

NFL Star Darren Waller’s Wife Says He Was Traded Because Coach ‘Wasn’t Invited To The Wedding’

NFL Star Darren Waller's Wife Says He Was Traded Because Coach 'Wasn’t Invited To The Wedding'

Celebrities

Football

WNBA player Brittney Griner made an appearance at a Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade in Phoenix, Arizona, a month after being <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/wnba-star-brittney-griner-freed-from-russian-prison-in-swap-for-arms-dealer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">released</a> from a Russian jail in a prisoner swap.
Griner appeared in the parade on Monday with her wife, Cherelle, reportedly telling fans she was glad to be home.
Local reporter Jonathan McCall shared an image and video with Griner at the parade on Twitter.
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HAPPY TO BE HOME: <a href="https://twitter.com/PhoenixMercury?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PhoenixMercury</a> star <a href="https://twitter.com/brittneygriner?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@brittneygriner</a> makes appearance at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AZMLK?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AZMLK</a> Festival in Phoenix. 
BG posed for pictures with fans. 
Talked about being Houstonians.
Says she’s happy to be home after time in Russian prison.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/News?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#News</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AZ?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AZ</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BG42?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BG42</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hoops?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Hoops</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WNBA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WNBA</a> <a href="https://t.co/G2ocB8fEqO">pic.twitter.com/G2ocB8fEqO</a>
&mdash; Jonathan McCall (@JonathanMcCall) <a href="https://twitter.com/JonathanMcCall/status/1615095676404404226?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Griner was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/report-wnba-star-detained-in-russia-on-drug-charges-could-face-up-to-10-years-in-prison" target="_blank" rel="noopener">arrested</a> in February in a Moscow airport after vaping cartridges containing hashish oil were found in her luggage. She was later <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/wnba-star-brittney-griner-sentenced-to-9-years-in-russian-prison" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sentenced</a> to more than nine years in a decision many argued was politically motivated.
The Mercury Phoenix center&#8217;s arrest occurred shortly before Russia <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-russia-begins-full-scale-invasion-into-ukraine-putin-confirms-military-operation-underway" target="_blank" rel="noopener">invaded</a> Ukraine in February. President Joe Biden spoke out against Russia&#8217;s invasion, with the U.S. providing <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/senate-advances-massive-40-billion-ukraine-spending-package-11-republicans-oppose" target="_blank" rel="noopener">billions of dollars</a> in support to Ukraine.
Griner was released in December in a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/video-emerges-of-brittney-griner-being-swapped-for-russian-terrorist-critics-instantly-notice-problem" target="_blank" rel="noopener">prisoner swap</a> for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, also known as the “Merchant of Death.”
The two-time Olympic gold medalist wrote a post on Instagram to celebrate her freedom last month.
&#8220;It feels so good to be home! The last 10 months have been a battle at every turn. I dug deep to keep my faith and it was the love from so many of you that helped keep me going. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone for your help,&#8221; Griner <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CmPAWB5O8F1/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a> in December.
Griner also commented on her return to the basketball court next season.
&#8220;I also want to make one thing very clear: I intend to play basketball for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury this season, and in doing so, I look forward to being able to say ‘thank you’ to those of you who advocated, wrote, and posted for me in person soon,&#8221; she added in the Instagram post.
Bout was serving a 25-year prison sentence in the U.S. for conspiring to kill Americans, delivery of anti-aircraft missiles, and aiding a terrorist organization.
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was among those who spoke out against the Biden administration&#8217;s strategy in the prisoner swap.
“We weren’t going to trade bad guys for celebrities because it creates the wrong incentives for the bad guys. As we go forward, it’s not good for American national security. It’s not good for people who are traveling across the world,” he <a href="https://twitter.com/FoxNewsSunday/status/1601983971520569345" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
Others have also expressed <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pompeo-blasts-griner-prisoner-swap-bad-guys-for-celebrities-sends-wrong-message" target="_blank" rel="noopener">frustration</a> that former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan remains imprisoned in Russia and was not freed during the negotiations to secure Griner&#8217;s release.
“I am greatly disappointed that more has not been done to secure my release, especially as the four-year anniversary of my arrest is coming up. I was arrested for a crime that never occurred,” Whelan <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/08/politics/paul-whelan-cnn-interview-brittney-griner/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. “I don’t understand why I’m still sitting here.”

Brittney Griner

WNBA’s Brittney Griner Makes MLK Day Appearance In Arizona

Arizona

Russia

Officials at the Department of Justice (DOJ) think it was a mistake for President Joe Biden to swap WNBA star <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/wnba-star-brittney-griner-freed-from-russian-prison-in-swap-for-arms-dealer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brittney Griner</a> for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, dubbed the “Merchant of Death.&#8221;
Griner was arrested in February at a Moscow airport after being caught with marijuana vaping materials and sentenced to nine years in prison in August. Bout, one of the world’s most notorious arms dealers, was <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/international-arms-dealer-viktor-bout-convicted-new-york-terrorism-crimes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">convicted</a> in 2011 of conspiring to sell millions of dollars worth of weapons to a designated foreign terrorist group to be used to kill Americans.
&#8220;If she were my relative, I would want to do the swap,&#8221; one DOJ official <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/12/09/brittney-griner-viktor-bout-paul-whelan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> The Washington Post. &#8220;But trading a notorious international arms dealer for a basketball player is madness.&#8221;
The Post said many officials within the department view the one-for-one swap as a mistake, given the glaring disparity between offenses.
Former DEA agent Robert Zachariasiewicz told the Post he was opposed to the move over what it likely reinforces to Russia.
&#8220;We just showed that it is really useful to have an American in your back pocket because you never know when you need them to trade,&#8221; Zachariasiewicz said.
At the time of his conviction, then-Attorney General Eric Holder called Bout &#8220;one of the world’s most prolific arms dealers.&#8221;
“Viktor Bout’s arms trafficking activity and support of armed conflicts have been a source of concern around the globe for decades,&#8221; the Obama administration AG said, adding that Bout would pay for his &#8220;efforts to sell millions of dollars worth of weapons to terrorists for use in killing Americans.&#8221;
The Biden administration took additional heat for the Griner swap since they failed to secure the release of Paul Whelan, a retired U.S. Marine jailed in Russia since December 2018 on espionage charges that the U.S. government said are baseless.
David Whelan, brother of the imprisoned Michigan man, said in a statement that he “can’t fathom” how his brother would feel upon hearing the news of Griner’s release.
“Despite the possibility that there might be an exchange without Paul, our family is still devastated,” David said, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/wnba-star-brittney-griner-freed-from-russian-prison-in-swap-for-arms-dealer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Wire</a> reported. “I can’t even fathom how Paul will feel when he learns. Paul has worked so hard to survive nearly 4 years of this injustice. His hopes had soared with the knowledge that the US government was taking concrete steps for once towards his release. He’d been worrying about where he’d live when he got back to the U.S.”
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hell-nah-dallas-cowboy-has-strong-reaction-to-brittney-griner-swap" target="_blank" rel="noopener">‘Hell Nah’: Dallas Cowboy Has Strong Reaction To Brittney Griner Swap, Walks It Back</a>

President Biden Welcomes French President Macron To The White House

‘Madness’: Even Biden DOJ Officials Calling Foul On Griner Swap For ‘Merchant Of Death’

‘Madness’: Even DOJ Officials Calling Foul On Biden Swapping Griner For ‘Merchant Of Death’

Biden Administration

Dallas Cowboy Micah Parsons quickly reversed course, apologizing after slamming President Joe Biden in the wake of the prisoner swap that secured WNBA star <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/wnba-star-brittney-griner-freed-from-russian-prison-in-swap-for-arms-dealer/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brittney Griner&#8217;s release</a>.
Parsons, upon learning that Russia was trading Griner for international arms dealer Viktor &#8220;Merchant of Death&#8221; Bout — and that Marine veteran Paul Whelan was being left behind in a Russian prison — <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/hell-nah-dallas-cowboy-has-strong-reaction-to-brittney-griner-swap/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lashed out</a> at the Biden administration for failing to secure Whelan&#8217;s release as well.
&#8220;Wait nah!! We left a marine?!! Hell nah,&#8221; Parsons tweeted.
But a short time later, apparently upon learning more about the context of the prisoner exchange, Parsons tweeted his apology and said that he should not have allowed his emotions to get the best of him.
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then the best outcome was accomplished. I pray Mr. Whelan comes home but am extremely happy for Brittney and her family. I am not too prideful to admit when I’ve made a mistake.
&mdash; Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) <a href="https://twitter.com/MicahhParsons11/status/1600870691326554112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2022</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Just spoke to some people that I respect and trust. I should have been more educated on the topic and not tweeted out of emotion for my family and other (sic) who have served. For that I apologize,&#8221; Parsons began, adding that he had also learned more about the Biden administration&#8217;s efforts to bring Whelan home.
&#8220;Also if what I’m told about the attempts to bring Ret Marine Paul Whelan home are true, then the best outcome was accomplished,&#8221; he added. &#8220;I pray Mr. Whelan comes home but am extremely happy for Brittney and her family. I am not too prideful to admit when I’ve made a mistake.&#8221;
Whelan also <a href="https://www.mediaite.com/news/just-in-paul-whelan-says-hes-greatly-disappointed-brittney-griner-prisoner-swap-didnt-secure-his-release-too/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spoke to CNN</a> — from the Russian prison where he is serving a 16-year sentence for espionage — about the exchange. He told the outlet&#8217;s Jennifer Hansler that he was &#8220;greatly disappointed&#8221; that the final deal had not included him.
The Marine veteran, who has always maintained his innocence, told CNN that in the weeks leading up to Thursday&#8217;s announcement, he had actually begun to believe there was hope that his release would be part of the arrangement.
Whelan&#8217;s brother, David, also released a statement on the exchange, noting that the family had at least been warned ahead of Thursday&#8217;s announcement that Paul would not be a part of the deal — and said that while they were certainly happy to see one wrongfully imprisoned American go free, they were still devastated that he was left behind.

New York Giants v Dallas Cowboys

‘I Should Have Been More Educated’: Dallas Cowboy Walks Back Biden Slam Over Griner Case

Dallas Cowboy Micah Parsons Walks Back Biden Slam Over Griner Case

Dallas Cowboys

Global Politics

World

U.S. Marine veteran Paul Whelan told CNN on Thursday that he was &#8220;greatly disappointed&#8221; that President Joe Biden&#8217;s deal to secure Brittney Griner&#8217;s release from a Russian prison did not also include a release for him.
Whelan, who has been <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/the-merchant-of-death-for-griner-and-whelan-why-the-russian-prisoner-swap-is-a-risky-deal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">imprisoned in Russia</a> for nearly four years since his arrest, is currently serving 16 years in a penal colony for a crime that he says never happened. The Canadian-born Marine veteran — who holds U.S., British, and Irish citizenship — was arrested in 2018 and accused of espionage. He was sentenced to prison two years later.
Although he was happy to see Griner released, he was <a href="https://www.mediaite.com/news/just-in-paul-whelan-says-hes-greatly-disappointed-brittney-griner-prisoner-swap-didnt-secure-his-release-too/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">disappointed</a> to have been left behind, Whelan told CNN&#8217;s Jennifer Hansler from the Russian prison on Thursday.
WATCH:
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“[Whelan] has been there nearly 4 years on espionage charges … He was very disappointed that he was left behind, though he was very happy that Brittney Griner got out.”
— CNN’s <a href="https://twitter.com/jmhansler?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jmhansler</a> on Paul Whelan, who is still detained in Russia, reacting to Brittney Griner’s release <a href="https://t.co/DkfzcPJL5z">pic.twitter.com/DkfzcPJL5z</a>
&mdash; The Recount (@therecount) <a href="https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1600891027593646089?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2022</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;I am greatly disappointed that more has not been done to secure my release, especially as the four-year anniversary of my arrest is coming up. I was arrested for a crime that never occurred,&#8221; Whelan said. &#8220;I don’t understand why I’m still sitting here.&#8221;
Whelan also told Hansler that in the days and weeks leading up to the <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/wnba-star-brittney-griner-freed-from-russian-prison-in-swap-for-arms-dealer/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">prisoner swap</a> — Griner for international arms dealer Viktor Bout, who is also known as the &#8220;Merchant of Death&#8221; — he had actually begun to believe that there was some hope he would be included in the deal.
Whelan&#8217;s family also released a statement in the wake of the news, saying that it was always a great day when a wrongfully imprisoned person was released, but that they still hoped for the day it would happen for him.
His brother noted that the family <a href="https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2022/12/08/biden-leaves-marine-paul-whelan-behind-in-russia-brittney-griner-swap-family-catastrophe/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">had been warned</a> ahead of the news breaking that Paul would not be a part of the swap, adding, &#8220;That early warning meant that our family has been able to mentally prepare for what is now a public disappointment for us. And a catastrophe for Paul. I do not know if he is aware yet, although he will surely learn from Russian media &#8230; I can’t even fathom how Paul will feel when he learns. Paul has worked so hard to survive nearly 4 years of this injustice. His hopes had soared with the knowledge that the US government was taking concrete steps for once towards his release. He’d been worrying about where he’d live when he got back to the U.S.&#8221;
Whelan&#8217;s family made it clear that they did not begrudge Griner gaining her freedom, noting that the two cases were separate and that there had always been a chance that they would be freed one at a time.

RUSSIA-US-DIPLOMACY-ESPIONAGE-JUSTICE

‘I Don’t Understand’: Marine Vet Left In Russian Prison ‘Greatly Disappointed’ After Griner Swap

Marine Vet Paul Whelan Left In Russian Prison, 'Greatly Disappointed' Biden Didn't Get Him Out Too

Marines

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