Reggie Miller compared Caitlin Clark to Boston’s Celtics Payton Pritchard during NBC Sports’ debut of Basketball Night in America on Feb. 1. Her facial expressions, clearly showing her surprise, went viral.
She didn’t say anything, except a simple smile at the time, but the WNBA superstar has come back with a cheeky response now. It happened during a Boston Celtics win over the Dallas Mavericks on Feb. 3. And Clark needed just three emojis to make her point.
Caitlin Clark Has a Subtle Response to Payton Pritchard Comparison
Clark reacted on social media Tuesday night after the Celtics posted a highlight video of Pritchard’s first-quarter buzzer-beater against the Mavericks.
Clark replied to the clip on X by posting the Smirking Face emoji three times.
The Celtics defeated the Mavericks 110–100 at the American Airlines Center on Feb. 3. Pritchard came off the bench and delivered one of his strongest performances of the season, scoring 26 points on 12-of-20 shooting and 2-of-8 from three-point range in 35 minutes.
Boston’s video showed Pritchard drilling a shot at the first-quarter buzzer, pushing the score to 32–29. He also added eight points in just six minutes during the opening quarter, setting the tone for the night. It was that moment Clark chose to acknowledge, and the timing must not have gone unnoticed by fans.
Clark’s reaction traces back to Sunday night, Feb. 1, when she went viral during NBC Sports’ debut of Basketball Night in America. Appearing live from Madison Square Garden alongside host Maria Taylor and analysts Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter, and Tracy McGrady, Clark was asked a simple question.
Taylor asked Miller whether any player he had watched or played with reminded him of Clark’s game. Miller’s answer quickly became the focus of the night as he compared the WNBA’s generation of talent to the Celtics’ role player, Pritchard.
Clark smiled politely on camera, but her raised eyebrows and brief pause told a different story. The clip spread rapidly across social media, turning the comparison into a league-wide talking point.
Now, Pritchard is a respected NBA guard, no doubt, and an important contributor for the Celtics. He is known as a reliable scorer off the bench and a steady presence in big moments.
Clark’s résumé, however, places her in a very different tier. In her rookie WNBA season, she led the Indiana Fever to their first playoff appearance in eight years, won Rookie of the Year, led the league in assists, and earned All-WNBA First Team honors. She operates as a primary ball-handler with deep shooting range and is often compared stylistically to Stephen Curry.
That contrast is what made Clark’s emoji-only response land so cleanly. It acknowledged the moment without escalating it, while letting the context speak for itself.
The original exchange took place ahead of the New York Knicks’ matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers, but it quickly became one of the night’s most discussed moments. Pritchard’s performance against the Mavs only added another layer to the story.
In any case, Clark’s response did not explain anything or push back directly. It simply nodded at the moment and leaned into the humor.
