With another WNBA All-Star season, a FIBA Women’s World Cup gold medal, another playoff appearance and the release of her first signature shoe, Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark remains one of the faces of women’s basketball.

Since her days as a star at the University of Iowa, Clark’s long-range shooting and playmaking vaulted her into the national conversation.

Clark and the Fever remain among the WNBA’s strongest television draws, with multiple Indiana games featuring Clark ranking among the league’s most-watched broadcasts. Meanwhile, a former ESPN anchor has offered a different take on Clark and the fandom surrounding her.

Elle Duncan Thinks that WNBA Star Caitlin Clark is Being Used in Bad Faith

Despite outstanding success as a professional, the discourse surrounding Clark continues to make her a polarizing figure. With opinion completely entrenched, Clark often finds herself in the middle.

Elle Duncan, who worked for ESPN for over nine-and-a-half years, sat down with Front Office Sports to discuss Clark’s treatment.

“I think that Caitlin Clark has been put in a completely unfair situation, so unnecessary. To ask, at the time when she came into the league, a 21, 22-year-old woman from Iowa to understand why this was happening to her and why this is happening to all the women around the league,” Duncan said.

As mentioned, Clark entered the league as a ratings draw, a playmaking point guard with strong three-point skills. However, Clark’s arrival into the WNBA has coincided with the changing fan culture in the league.

“It is long before Caitlin Clark ever stepped foot on a WNBA court, that some of these narratives have been out there,” Duncan continued.

Duncan detailed the history and how people used Clark for fueling division and negativity on social media. However, she commended Clark for standing true to her morals and beliefs.

“They used her as an avatar and that’s not fair. I also think that to whom much has been given, much is expected and I think Caitlin understands that as well,” she said.

When the Las Vegas Aces ended the Fever’s postseason, the exit interviews became noteworthy. Kelsey Mitchell, one of Clark’s teammates, discussed facing criticism from Fever fans.

Clark, who has routinely expressed her support for Mitchell, made herself clear during her exit interview. The three-time WNBA All-Star clearly explained that hate speech and the associated behavior are not something she agrees with or tolerates.

As mentioned, Clark’s rapid rise has helped her become a very divisive figure in the WNBA. For now, the Fever star has tried to stay out of most debates while attempting to redirect focus onto basketball.