ESPN analyst slammed for saying Fever is ‘more dangerous’ without Caitlin Clark amid injury absence

Dave Portnoy among critics calling out analyst’s claim as statistics suggest the team is more effective with Clark

Emmanuel Acho reacts to the growing concern around how the WNBA is handling Caitlin Clark. From intense physical play to mounting injuries, Acho questions whether the league is pushing her too far.

Amid Caitlin Clark’s extended injury absence from the Indiana Fever, at least one media pundit has suggested the team is better without the superstar.

ESPN’s Carolyn Peck said on the network on Thursday that Indiana is a “more dangerous” team without Clark on the floor.

Carolyn Peck speaks before the game between the Minnesota Lynx and the New York Liberty during Game One of the 2024 WNBA Finals on October 10, 2024 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.  (David L. Nemec/NBAE via Getty Images)

“I think that Indiana is even more dangerous when Caitlin Clark doesn’t play, because she’s a ball-dominant guard,” she said. “The ball’s in her hands a lot, so you know what you need to try to take away. But when you look at Indiana now, they’ve got so many weapons.”

Peck gave specific praise to Fever players Kelsey Mitchell, Aari McDonald and Aliyah Boston. Peck did not appear to give praise to Fever stars Sophie Cunningham or Lexie Hull.

“When you have a point guard like Kelsey Mitchell, and Aari McDonald making plays on the perimeter, and a post like Aliyah Boston, I’m gonna tell you: Indiana, they are a threat. And it’s specifically on the defensive end,” Peck said.

Peck’s comments went viral on social media, inciting the wrath of Clark’s loyal supporters.

Barstool founder Dave Portnoy reposted the clip of Peck’s comments on X, writing, “I knew this was gonna happen.”

The popular sports commentary X account “BricksCenter” also shared the clip, writing, “Their hatred toward CC needs to be studied.”

Hundreds of smaller accounts made their criticisms of Peck’s analysis known.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) plays against the Dallas Wings in the second half of a WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024.  (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)

“ESPN would be a lot more ‘dangerous’ without Carolyn Peck,” one user wrote.

Another user wrote, “All of Peck’s takes on CC last year ended being wrong and I don’t expect anything different from this season.”

One user even went so far as to say, “ESPN analyst Carolyn Peck is a hater and a fool.”

Peck was the women’s basketball head coach at Purdue when current Fever head coach Stephanie White was a player there. Together, they won the NCAA title in 1999.

Clark has missed the team’s last four games with a groin injury and will miss a fifth on Saturday against the LA Sparks. She previously missed five games with a quad injury.

From left, Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell (0), guard Lexie Hull, guard Sophie Cunningham and forward Aliyah Boston (7) huddle during the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the Seattle Storm, Tuesday, June 24, 2025, in Seattle.  (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

With Clark, Indiana is 5–4, averaging an 85.0 offensive rating.

Without Clark, the team is 5–4 with an average 80.2 offensive rating.

In games she has played, Clark is averaging 18.2 points, 8.9 assists and 5.9 turnovers.

Fever’s Caitlin Clark to miss 5th straight game vs. Sparks

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark will miss her fifth straight game with a left groin injury after the team ruled her out of Saturday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Sparks.

It will be the ninth regular-season game missed by Clark and 10th overall including the Commissioner’s Cup final. She sat out five games earlier in the season because of a left quad strain and had returned to appear in five games before the groin injury. Before this year, Clark hadn’t missed time across her collegiate or professional careers.

Fever coach Stephanie White said at practice Friday that Clark had gone through semi-live shooting drills but hadn’t gone full speed in practice yet. White added that Clark was going to be evaluated Saturday morning, but she was listed as out Friday evening in the Fever’s injury report.

Clark, the 2024 No. 1 pick, is averaging 18.2 points, 8.9 assists and 5.0 rebounds in nine games this season, shooting 39.0% from the field and 29.5% from 3-point range. She recently was named an All-Star starter and captain by virtue of receiving the most fan votes.

Indiana (9-8) kicked off a five-game homestand Thursday with a resounding win over the Las Vegas Aces. After Saturday’s tilt against the Sparks, they will face the Golden State Valkyries on Wednesday.