During this morning’s first Hot Topic, the co-hosts discussed Jemele Hill’s comments to the   Los Angeles Times   after the former ESPN host said Clark had the same “relatableness” as Steph Curry, but added, “We’d all be so naive if we didn’t say that race and his sexuality played a role in his popularity.”

Goldberg was quick to question Hill’s words, listing some impressive stats about Clark, including her title as the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer for both men and women, before saying, “When people say things like [Hill’s comment], it’s like people are saying, ‘Oh, you only got into this Ivy League school because you’re black,’ or you only got this because of this.

“This girl earned it! I’m sorry, there are great players out there, but no one else has done it. So I’m not mad that they gave her a basketball,” he continued, referring to Clark’s limited edition Wilson basketball.

Goldberg then offered a suggestion to the company: “One of the things they could do… to honor the women who play in the WNBA, maybe they should do a series of balls.”

Shen then offered a warning: “Please don’t make them pink. OK? They don’t need to be pink. Just make them regular basketballs, because there are some extraordinary players out there and she’s part of the reason people are paying attention to the WNBA now.” Photo: ABC
Goldberg was so immersed in the conversation this morning that she ignored the music signaling it was time to end the segment and cut to commercials. When the familiar tune began playing at the end of Hot Topic, she said, “Hold on a second with this,” raising a finger in the air.

She then mentioned that   The View   had been “trying to bring attention to the WNBA for years” and had been “begging people to pay attention.”

“These women are often just as good, or even better, than the ones you’re seeing. For [Clark] to be diminished like that really bothered me,” Goldberg continued, before waving a card with Clark’s stats and saying, “this is her record; unless you can show me who else has a better record than this, this is why she’s getting the attention she’s getting. Because she’s a very good player.”

“And it doesn’t matter if she’s straight or gay. Nobody cries when she makes those balls!” he concluded.