Joy Taylor’s departure from Fox Sports after nearly a decade has stirred mixed emotions online. While some fans expressed disappointment over her show Speak being canceled, a vocal group of Caitlin Clark supporters had a very different reaction – celebration.
The reason? A resurfaced comment Taylor made earlier this summer that didn’t sit well with Clark’s fanbase.
Back in June, Taylor appeared on the Joe Budden Podcast where she argued that Caitlin Clark’s meteoric rise in popularity was largely due to her infamous 2023 NCAA title game clash with LSU’s Angel Reese.
“We would not be talking about Caitlin Clark the way that we do if it wasn’t for that moment with Angel Reese. And I will die on this hill,” Taylor said.
That statement quickly went viral, drawing criticism for what many saw as an unfair dismissal of Clark’s individual achievements.
Now that Fox Sports has canceled Taylor’s program as part of a broader shake-up, some fans have treated it as poetic justice.
Reactions flooded social media with comments like “Good riddance Joy Taylor” and “She got what she deserved.”
While Taylor’s exit was likely due to ratings and programming decisions, Clark’s supporters interpreted it as a symbolic victory.
A rivalry that ignited a movement
The Clark-Reese rivalry is one of the most high-profile narratives in women’s basketball. Their competitive history dates back to college, but it was their 2023 NCAA championship game showdown that brought it national attention.
Reese’s “you can’t see me” hand gesture toward Clark during LSU’s victory became an iconic, if controversial, moment that set the sports world buzzing.
Taylor’s comments suggested that this moment catapulted Clark into stardom. But fans disagree, pointing to Clark’s incredible stats and accomplishments.
During her time with Iowa, Clark became the all-time NCAA scoring leader with 3,951 points. She also led the nation in assists and became one of the most watched athletes in college sports history.
Her transition to the WNBA has only strengthened her case. In her rookie season, she broke the single-season assists record, became the first rookie to record a triple-double, and earned Time Magazine’s Athlete of the Year honor.
To her supporters, Clark’s greatness is undeniable and built on skill, not a single viral moment. They argue it’s Reese who benefits from the rivalry, not the other way around.
As one social media user put it: “If it wasn’t for Caitlin, no one would even know who Angel is.”
For many, Joy Taylor’s exit isn’t just a media change – it’s a moment of validation.
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