In a bizarre moment captured live on NBC’s Sunday Night Basketball broadcast, WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark joined the studio show with Maria Taylor, Carmelo Anthony, and Reggie Miller. Taylor asked Miller if there were any players he played with, or current NBA players who reminded him of Clark, and without hesitation, he replied: Payton Pritchard.
Clark’s reaction quickly made its rounds on the internet, as her face dropped and a smile completely disappeared from her face, with a look that can only be described as a mix of shock and disgust.
Caitlin Clark’s reaction when Reggie Miller compared her to Payton Pritchard 💀💀💀pic.twitter.com/QPDoKF6cmz
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) February 2, 2026
She rebounded with a forced smile as Miller talked about Pritchard’s ability to handle the ball, his knack for buzzer-beaters, and his ability in the big moment, finishing by saying that Pritchard is a champion, which was a bit odd considering that’s not an accomplishment that Clark can claim at the moment.
It's always nice to see a Celtics player getting some love from the national media, but this was a bit over the top, and sadly, the reaction from Clark is going to get all the attention here, thanks to Miller’s reach.
Comparing Clark to Pritchard was insulting
As great as Pritchard has been for the Cs, as much as fans love him, and as much as he has meant to the team, he’s a very good role player, a Sixth Man of the Year, now a good starter, but not somebody who’s sniffing an All-Star game or anything like that.
He’s probably about the 50th-best player in the NBA, at best, and that may even be generous. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, and so far, his career has been a massive success, but it’s nowhere near the same pool that Clark is swimming in.
Caitlin is one of the most storied college players of all time, a perennial WNBA MVP candidate, and already one of the brightest stars in the history of the sport, and she just turned 24 years old. At this point, it’s not outlandish to say she’s on a trajectory that could leave her in the discussion for the greatest woman to ever play basketball.
Miller would have been justified if he had compared her to the likes of Steph Curry, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Luka Doncic, so it’s understandable why Clark had a visceral reaction to hearing Payton Pritchard’s name.
I’m sure she meant no harm and has no ill will towards Pritchard. After all, we know she follows the Celtics after shouting out her fellow Hawkeye, Luka Garza. But this comparison was out of line, and nobody can blame her for feeling slighted.