Kim Mulkey discussed the physicality and intensity of the WNBA during a talk at the Aspen Ideas Festival in June. She expressed her appreciation for the physical nature of the game, emphasizing its importance in her coaching approach.
She argued that the increased physicality experienced by players like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese was largely influenced by fan-created narratives. Mulkey stated that the older players were reacting to external pressures, leading to clashes with the younger generation.
“Do you understand, in the WNBA, how long some of those players have played the game?” Kim Mulkey said (39:34). “I mean, you got (Diana) Taurasi, you got (Brittany) Griner, who played for me.”
“Those guys have been playing for a long, long time and let me say this, they welcome, and if I can speak for them, they don’t have a problem with Angel and Clark. Those girls really have done nothing to make them not like them. It’s all the outside noise that aggravates those older players.” she said.
However, Kim Mulkey views the friction between young and old players as a natural aspect of competition. She likened it to sibling rivalry, with the media and fans creating unnecessary narratives around the players’ interactions.
Kim Mulkey comments on Caitlin Clark’s Olympics snub
As a former Olympics gold medalist, Mulkey weighed in on Caitlin Clark’s exclusion from the team. She clarified that popularity was not a deciding factor in the selection process.
While Mulkey acknowledged Clark’s talent and potential for the Team USA squad, she emphasized the importance of experience in the committee’s decision-making.
“I think, and I want to say this, is she good enough to be on the Olympics team?” Mulkey said (44:08). “She is, as are others, but that committee has a decision to make and they don’t sit in there going, ‘Oh, she’s got to be on there because she’s so popular in the growth of the game.'”
“They’re looking at a pool of players who have put in their time and have gone overseas and played every summer and put in their time with USA basketball,” Mulkey said.
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Edited by Saishyam Srikanth
