when Caitlin Clark came to the WNBA last year as a near-force of nature that provided a huge boost in fan interest in the league, the response of most of the players bordered on violence, as Clark faced hard fouls, physical attacks, and other signs of disrespect as the players simply could not accept the presence of a white and sexually straight superstar.

He may be right (I think the truth's most likely somewhere between him and the NYT writer he criticizes even though TV viewing absolutely does matter). But that statement above is from a moron who doesn't understand basketball. It's a contact sport, and the better you are, the more you're going to take hard fouls. She didn't take them because she was white and straight (there are plenty of folks who are both), but because she came in hailed as the Greatest Ever.