Shane Gillis drew a mixed reaction from the athletes and celebrities in attendance and a divided response online after his jokes about Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark and the WNBA at the 2025 ESPYS.
The comedian and star of the Netflix show "Tires" hosted the annual ESPN award show on July 16 for the first time and did not hold back. Gillis had zingers involving President Donald Trump, disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, legendary football coach Bill Belichick and his girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, and more.
One that appeared to strike a nerve was about Clark, the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year and star guard for the Indiana Fever.
"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: fistfighting Black women," Gillis said in his opening monologue.
An awkward groan, in addition to laughter, could be heard in the crowd after he delivered the joke at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
The punch line appeared to reference Clark being involved in some hard fouls and physical play against WNBA opponents like Angel Reese and Chennedy Carter, both of whom are Black.
Clark has previously credited Black players for laying the foundation of the WNBA and told Time in 2024 that "the more we can elevate Black women, that’s going to be a beautiful thing.”
The Fever star was not in attendance at the ESPYS because Indiana had a game against the New York Liberty. She won the ESPY for Best WNBA Player, which was announced before the ceremony.
The joke about her by Gillis not only drew a chilly reaction in person but also some criticism online.
"Caitlin Clark’s rise is a win for women’s sports, yet Shane Gillis reduces her (and Black women in the WNBA) to a harmful caricature," one person wrote on X.
"That is horrible! Not funny! And Caitlin has done nothing to deserve that. She only speaks well of everyone!" another posted.
In another part of his monologue, Gillis took a shot at the popularity of the WNBA.
"Four-time WNBA All-Star Brittany Hicks is here," he said. "Give it up for Brittany, everybody. I’m joking around. That’s my friend’s wife. I knew none of you knew WNBA players.”
Carson Daly commented on Gillis' overall performance on TODAY on July 17.
"He had a lot of jokes that were really hilarious, then he had a lot of jokes like, 'Oh my gosh, I can't believe he just said that,'" Carson said. "It sort of ran the gamut there."
"It was awkward," he added.
Scott Stump is a trending reporter and the writer of the daily newsletter This is TODAY (which you should subscribe to here!) that brings the day's news, health tips, parenting stories, recipes and uplifting stories right to your inbox. He has been a regular contributor for TODAY.com since 2011, producing features and news for pop culture, parents, politics, health, style, food and pretty much everything else.
