The fallout from Kelsey Plum’s infamous, team Clark joke at WNBA All-Star Weekend isn’t quite over. What the Los Angeles Sparks guard insists was a harmless inside reference has instead snowballed into a defining controversy, one that overshadowed the All-Star weekend’s most powerful moment and is still sparking debate weeks later.
Now, with Plum clarifying her side of the story, analyst Skip Bayless is questioning not just what she said, but how she said it.
Skip Bayless Weighs In on Kelsey Plum’s Clarification
Plum recently used the Bird’s Eye View podcast to explain the viral moment, saying her hungover jab at Team Clark wasn’t a knock at Caitlin Clark’s squad but a playful nod to her own team’s nickname, “Hangover.” She admitted the joke was poorly timed, given that players were using the stage to highlight pay equity during heated CBA negotiations.
“I made a bad joke… I should’ve known it was a way more serious moment than a typical All-Star Game,” Plum admitted.
But that explanation hasn’t convinced everyone. Veteran sports reporter Bayless chimed in on X, writing:
“I’m trying to believe Kelsey Plum because of the word ‘very’ she used in her controversial quote … but the way she said it didn’t come across as very jokey.”
I’m trying to believe Kelsey Plum because of the word “very” she used in her controversial quote … but the way she said it didn’t come across as very jokey.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) August 16, 2025
For Bayless, the issue wasn’t the words themselves but the delivery — how Plum’s tone carried more bite than humor in a moment already loaded with meaning. In an All-Star Weekend defined by solidarity, even a half-joking jab landed harder than expected.
Why Plum’s Comment Struck a Nerve at All-Star Weekend
The timing is what made Plum’s words sting. Right before her joke, players from both squads had worn the now-iconic “Pay Us What You Owe Us” shirts, a direct shot at stalled talks with the league.
Over 40 athletes had met with WNBA officials behind closed doors, hoping to move the needle on pay and benefits, but walked away frustrated. In that charged atmosphere, any hint of division risked undermining the unified message.
As first vice president of the WNBPA, Plum wasn’t just another player on the court — she was a voice at the bargaining table. That’s why her comment about Team Clark missing the players’ pregame meeting cut deeper, even if unintended.
WNBA players HATE Caitlin Clark
Kelsey Plum dissed her for NO reason 😭 pic.twitter.com/BqN2Kn1oQZ
— BricksCenter (@BricksCenter) July 20, 2025
What was meant as a playful quip quickly became a flashpoint, redirecting headlines away from collective action and back onto one player’s words.
And while the All-Star fallout lingers, Plum hasn’t let it slow her game. Over her last five outings, she’s averaged 19.2 points, 5.2 assists, and 3.8 rebounds, highlighted by a 28-point performance against the Dallas Wings on August 15 that pushed her past 4,000 career points.
Leading her team in both scoring (20.3 PPG) and assists (6.1 APG), she’s proving that no matter the noise off the court, she remains the engine on it.
I personally feel that Caitlyn Clark should be playing overseas where she would be appreciated financially.
She needs to get away from the constant hatred of fellow players here in the States.