Credit: Michael Tran / AFP/Andy Lyons via Getty Images Kieran Doody · HITC Sun, November 8, 2026 at 8:02 PM UTC · 2 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former WNBA star Angel McCoughtry has denied calling Caitlin Clark "ugly" after her comments about the Indiana Fever guard sparked criticism across social media.
The controversy followed McCoughtry's appearance on the Get To The Point podcast, where she discussed the influence of appearance and popularity in women's basketball.
During the podcast discussion, McCoughtry suggested that looks and visibility can influence how much recognition WNBA players receive.
She highlighted Clark's Indiana Fever teammate Kelsey Mitchell, arguing that her basketball ability deserved greater recognition.
However, the conversation became potentially controversial when McCoughtry was asked whether she considered Clark attractive.
Rather than answering directly, the former WNBA All-Star laughed which some viewers interpreted as an insult.
A social media post subsequently accused McCoughtry of effectively calling Clark ugly, although she never explicitly used that description.
McCoughtry has since rejected the allegation in a statement on Threads.
"I never called anyone ugly, those words never came out my mouth," McCoughtry wrote.
She added that she does not think that way and questioned whether falsely attributing such remarks to someone could constitute defamation.
She said: "I don't even think in that way. So when people lie and say you said something you didn't or paint a lying picture. Isn't that a defamation lawsuit?"
Her response was subsequently shared on an X post.
McCoughtry has firmly denied insulting Clark while the wider debate about appearance, marketability, and recognition in the WNBA continues.
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Source: Sports
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