- - - Caitlin Clark jokes during Shane Gillis' ESPYS monologue met with mixed reactions

James H. Williams, USA TODAY July 16, 2025 at 10:53 PM

Shane Gillis served as host of the 2025 ESPYS and was front and center with a pair of Caitlin Clark-related jokes during his opening monologue.

Gillis' first joke was met with a mixed reaction from the crowd as he compared himself to the Indiana Fever star.

“It’s been a big year for the WNBA, I love Caitlin Clark,” Gillis said. “She and I have a lot in common. We’re both whites from the Midwest who have nailed a bunch of threes.”

Clark was not in attendance for the awards show, as the Fever were on the road for a game against the New York Liberty at the Barclays Center.

After what appeared to be a mixed reaction, Gillis paused and said, “There you go, lighten up a little. It’s not serious. We’ll see about this one,” before telling his second joke.

"When Caitlin Clark retires from the WNBA, she's going to work at a Waffle House so she can continue doing what she loves most: fist-fighting Black women,” Gillis said.

The remarks were a reference to the heated exchanges Clark has had this season with opponents.

Shane Gillis: "When Caitlin Clark retires from the WNBA, she's going to work at a Waffle House so she can continue doing what she loves most: fist-fighting Black women." #ESPYs pic.twitter.com/GxUDO5kpgr

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) July 17, 2025

Caitlin Clark wins at ESPYS

It was announced before the ceremony that Clark won the ESPY for Best WNBA Player. In 2024, Clark was named All-WNBA and Rookie of the Year.

They couldn’t stand Caitlin Clark winning Best WNBA Player Award at the ESPYS 😭“Her villain origin story has started” 💀 pic.twitter.com/MdU0BexMzz

— BricksCenter (@BricksCenter) July 17, 2025

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Shane Gillis ESPYS monologue: Comedian makes Caitlin Clark jokes

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Sports”