Caitlin Clark was once again in the spotlight during WNBA All-Star weekend-not just for her growing impact on the league, but for a heartwarming moment with her boyfriend, Connor McCaffery, that went viral.
As she stepped off the court, cameras caught Clark leaning in for a kiss with McCaffery, a gesture that quickly gained traction on social media.
But while many fans embraced the tender moment, Antonio Brown used it to launch an unnecessary and distasteful jab. The former NFL wide receiver reposted the video of the kiss with a caption that read: “Is she the first female basketball player to have a boyfriend?”
What Brown likely intended as sarcasm came across as something much worse: a reinforcement of the outdated stereotype that all female athletes must be gay.
His post sparked immediate backlash, with many pointing out how harmful and regressive such comments can be-not only toward Clark, but toward the entire women’s sports community.
Clark rises above tired stereotypes
Clark has quickly become the face of the WNBA, balancing massive expectations on the court with constant scrutiny off of it. Despite missing the All-Star game due to injury, she remained active throughout the weekend, attending events and supporting her teammates.
Her relationship with McCaffery, who has been by her side since their time at Iowa, has mostly stayed out of the public eye until now.
Brown‘s comment not only detracted from a simple, human moment-it also played into the kind of toxic rhetoric that female athletes have had to face for decades.
While Clark continues to lead with professionalism and grace, this episode is a reminder that the progress of women’s sports still comes with battles far beyond the scoreboard.
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