Imagine being a once-in-a-generation talent like Caitlin Clark, stepping into a national TV role as an NBC special contributor, only to be compared to Payton Pritchard. No disrespect to Pritchard, but coming from the greatest player to ever represent Indiana basketball, Reggie Miller, it was a moment that raised eyebrows. Clark’s reaction said everything, and now one of her teammates has weighed in on the comparison.

On her Show Me Something podcast, Sophie Cunningham discussed the incident in detail, which has since gone viral and sparked backlash toward Reggie Miller from fans and former NBA players alike.

“First of all, I think she did a really good job. She was a natural up there. She’s a dweeb, so she knows the game, and that’s no shock,” Cunningham said when asked about how Caitlin Clark handled the comparison on her podcast.

She continued, “I think, knowing Reggie Miller a little bit, he didn’t mean any harm by it. But it probably wasn’t the best comparison for the generational player that Caitlin is. That said, I don’t think she took it personally. I don’t think anyone really would. I just don’t know if I would compare him to her…. he’s awesome.”

To be clear, no one is suggesting Payton Pritchard is a bad player. The reigning Sixth Man of the Year is an established shooter, connecting on 35.2 percent from deep this season and nearly 40 percent across his career. He has also built a reputation for his willingness to pull up from the logo and let it fly from well beyond half court.

As Cunningham pointed out, this was never a comparison that fit a once-in-a-generation talent like Caitlin Clark. When you think about Clark’s impact on the WNBA, the conversation shifts toward transformational figures such as Michael Jordan and Stephen Curry — players who not only dominated the game but fundamentally changed how it is played and elevated the sport as a whole.

Celtics legend Paul Pierce called the comparison an embarrassment, saying, “He (Pritchard) doesn’t lead the team in scoring. I love Payton, that’s my little brother. Her gravitational pull is on the same level as Steph’s in the WNBA.”

But it is quite clear that Caitlin Clark did not take any of it personally, despite the reaction that has now taken on a life of its own as a meme.

Caitlin Clark Responds Sportingly to Payton Pritchard Comparison

Despite what many believe, the two players do share a few similarities. Both are crafty, hard nosed guards with deep shooting range. While Clark’s playmaking separates her from the rest, but it is also clear that Reggie was only trying to praise the Indiana Fever guard.

And Clark may have just shown that she is actually embracing the comparison. In tonight’s Celtics–Mavericks matchup, Payton Pritchard knocked down a buzzer beater to close the first quarter, and Caitlin Clark did not hesitate to react. She retweeted the clip on X with a simple response: “😏😏😏.”

Fans immediately loved the moment. Rather than sulking over the comparison, Caitlin Clark embraced it, and that is exactly what makes her special and so easy to root for. She remains as humble as they come, and at the end of the day, she has never cared much about outside noise. Clark has always preferred to let her game do the talking.