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Shane Gillis tells risky Caitlin Clark Waffle House joke at 2025 ESPY's

Barkley-Truaxby:Barkley Truax•07/17/25•

BarkleyTruax

Caitlin-Clark-reacts-controversial-ending-Liberty-loss-Stephanie-White-calls-out-refs
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) reacts to the officiating Saturday, May 24, 2025, during a game between the Indiana Fever and the New York Liberty at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The New York Liberty defeated the Indiana Fever, 90-88. | © Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Comedian Shane Gillis hosted the 2025 ESPYs on Wednesday night, and his monologue went about as expected. Nobody was safe, not even Caitlin Clark.

It’s no secret that the Indiana Fever star is one of the most popular players in the WNBA. However, in just over a year in the league, Clark has found herself in numerous verbal and physical altercations on the court with opposing players. Gillis exploited her fiery personality for the sake of his joke told live on ABC.

“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 — fist fighting black women,” he said.

At least Druski thought it was funny. It continued a trend for Gillis during the opening segment of telling shock-value one-liners about superstar athletes. He made sure to work in his patented Donald Trump impersonation, as well as his controversial immigration policies. He used Juan Soto as the butt for one of his jokes.

The opening monologue is one that will draw mixed reviews on social media. The crowd on-hand was made up primarily of high-profile athletes, coaches, executives and their families. It wasn’t exactly the typical Shane Gillis crowd to say the least.

Meanwhile, Clark was unavailable for the Fevers’ regular season matchup against the New York Liberty on Wednesday night after re-aggravating the same groin injury that kept her out of action for multiple games this month.

Clark appeared to be in pain in the final minute of the Tuesday’s 85-77 victory over the Connecticut Sun. The Fever burned a timeout to take her out of the game, continuing a trend for her injury-riddled sophomore season in the WNBA. She’s missed 10 of Indiana’s 23 games so far this season.

In turn, Clark’s numbers are down this season. After averaging 19.2 points per game during her rookie season, the Fever’s former No. 1 overall pick has dropped that averaged down to 16.5 points in four less minutes per game. However, her rebound and assist numbers this season have maintained a similar average to what she produced as a rookie.

Her status moving forward will be closely monitored as she looks to return to the court sooner rather than later. She’s set to perform in the WNBA 3-point contest during WNBA All-Star weekend before the fever resume their regular season schedule against the New York Liberty, again, on July 22.