Doug Harmon’s On-Air Comment About Caitlin Clark Sparks Firestorm
What was meant to be a routine WNBA panel turned into a viral controversy after analyst Doug Harmon compared rookie Caitlin Clark to Johnny Manziel, saying, “Great in college. Not built for the next level — not mentally.”
The remark landed with a thud. Silence filled the studio, but a live audience member’s phone captured it. That clip exploded online, drawing millions of views within hours. Critics accused Harmon of long-standing bias, resurfacing old footage where he questioned Clark’s leadership and rolled his eyes at praise.
STN Sports released a short statement distancing itself from Harmon’s comments and quietly removed him from future segments. But fans and players weren’t satisfied. One veteran tweeted, “Caitlin Clark isn’t Manziel. She’s the reason this league’s getting airtime again.”
Clark herself responded only once, saying, “I’m here to play ball. The rest is noise.”
Her five-second answer said more than Harmon’s entire monologue. This wasn’t just a bad take — it was a spotlight on deeper resentment and shifting power within women’s basketball. And now, no one can unsee it.
