Caitlin Clark Jersey Retirement Sparks Controversy as ESPN Ignores A’ja Wilson
Welcome to the Beno Podcast, where we call it like it is. Today, I’m upset—but there’s still a smile on my face. Let me explain why. I’m not mad at anyone in particular, but rather at something: ESPN, the media giant. They owe us an explanation for their glaring oversight.
Here’s the deal: on February 2, 2025, the Iowa Hawkeyes will retire Caitlin Clark’s jersey. A well-deserved honor for an incredible athlete. Let’s take a moment to celebrate this milestone.
(Cue celebratory highlights and applause)
ESPN even created a special segment highlighting Caitlin’s top five college career moments, reminding everyone why she’s one of the best. They recapped iconic moments like her game-winning buzzer-beaters, her historic 41-point performance in the Final Four against South Carolina, breaking the women’s all-time college scoring record, and surpassing Pete Maravich’s 54-year-old scoring record. Truly legendary stuff.
But here’s where things go south.
As much as I admire Caitlin Clark, ESPN’s celebration of her achievements came with a glaring omission. Did you know that on the same day—February 2, 2025—A’ja Wilson will have her jersey retired by the South Carolina Gamecocks? If you didn’t, that’s because ESPN didn’t bother to mention it. Not a single word. No highlights, no acknowledgment, nothing.
This kind of oversight is unacceptable. A’ja Wilson is one of the greatest players in college basketball history, a South Carolina legend who helped redefine the program. Her jersey retirement is just as significant as Caitlin’s, yet ESPN completely ignored it.
I gave ESPN the benefit of the doubt. Maybe they mentioned it when the announcement was first made? So, I searched for it. But no—there’s absolutely no record of them covering A’ja Wilson’s jersey retirement. This isn’t just a mistake; it’s a disservice to the game and the players who built it.
Meanwhile, some fans are complaining that Caitlin’s jersey retirement is happening on the same day as A’ja’s. Let’s set the record straight: Caitlin broke the scoring record on that date, she wears #22, and it’s Iowa’s only nationally televised game of the year. The timing makes sense. If South Carolina took six years to honor A’ja, that’s not on Caitlin or the Hawkeyes.
However, this shouldn’t be about pitting two players against each other. It’s about fair recognition. Both players deserve to be celebrated equally, and ESPN failed to do that. It’s frustrating, especially when you see A’ja Wilson’s teammate Aliyah Boston publicly congratulating Caitlin while showing love for South Carolina. That’s the kind of support and acknowledgment we need across the board.
ESPN, do better. Celebrate everyone. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Don’t forget to like and subscribe for more discussions like this. Until next time, take it easy.
