Despite asserting she isn’t being targeted because of white privilege, Caitlin Clark has once again found herself caught in the crosshairs of controversy—this time through commentary by former NBA player Etan Thomas, a former teammate of Michael Jordan. Thomas addressed the ongoing narratives surrounding the tragic death of Austin Metcalf, a 16-year-old Texas student who was fatally stabbed by Karmelo Anthony, a 17-year-old Black student, during an altercation earlier this month.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Thomas shared an image of Metcalf with the headline “WHITE LIVES MATTER” and condemned those using Metcalf’s death to promote what he calls a “white supremacy agenda.” He then drew a parallel to Caitlin Clark, who has become a lightning rod for similar discussions.
“The same demographic who is using Austin Metcalf as a prop to push their white supremacy agenda is the same demographic who used Caitlin Clark as a prop,” Thomas wrote. “And Jeff Metcalf [Austin’s father] is ruining it for them the same way Caitlin Clark ruined it for them.”
The same demographic who is using Austin Metcalf as a prop to push their white supremacy agenda is the same demographic who used Caitlin Clark as a prop to push their white supremacy agenda. And Jeff Metcalf is ruining it for them the same way Caitlin Clark ruined it for them pic.twitter.com/eOrNENMv5f
— Etan Thomas (@etanthomas36) April 21, 2025
Thomas praised Jeff Metcalf for not falling into the trap of politicizing his son’s death and likened that stance to how Clark has distanced herself from being used as a symbol for any racial or political narrative.
According to NBC News, the stabbing took place on the morning of April 2, following a heated altercation between Austin and Karmelo. The confrontation escalated quickly, with Anthony pulling a knife from his backpack and stabbing Metcalf in the chest. Despite the immediate response from emergency services, Metcalf succumbed to his injuries.
White privilege or not, Caitlin Clark is changing the game
Yet amid the controversy, Clark continues to reshape women’s basketball. The Indiana Fever star is generating massive buzz for the WNBA, drawing in new fans, including WWE superstar and fellow Iowan Seth Rollins.
“I love Caitlin Clark… It’s Jordanesque. She’s changed the game,” Rollins said during his April 17 appearance on the Outta Pocket with RGIII podcast.
WWE Superstar Seth Rollins is from Iowa and understands the impact @CaitlinClark22 has had on the WNBA and Women’s Sports,
“I love Caitlin Clark…It’s Jordanesque. She’s changed the game.”#SethRollins #CaitlinClark #WNBA #Rg3 #GG3 #OuttaPocket pic.twitter.com/uKj1VA1Eay
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) April 21, 2025
Clark’s rookie season backs up the hype. She averaged 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 8.4 assists, and 1.2 steals across 40 games. Her stellar debut earned her All-Star honors and the WNBA Rookie of the Year award, solidifying her as more than just a cultural icon. She’s a force on the court.
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Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
