Jay Williams questions Caitlin Clark's legacy, ESPN College GameDay crew comes to her defense

Spirited debate broke out on the ESPN College GameDay set live from Neville Arena in Auburn, Alabama when the crew discussed Iowa star Caitlin Clark breaking the all-time women’s hoops scoring record.

While ESPN showed a graphic detailing Clark’s incredible career as a scorer, GameDay panelist Andraya Carter remarked on how the Hawkeye superstar sold out 30 of 32 arenas she’s played in this year and explained just how far-reaching her impact is on the game.

“Fans show up to watch Caitlin Clark. Whether you’re an Iowa fan, and I’ve noticed, even when she starts to pop off in opponents’ arenas, opponent’s fans start cheering for her. The magnetic pull she has on crowds, high basketball IQ, high work ethic, she loves the game. It is incredible what she has been able to do. She is great.”

But another GameDay cast member, Jay Williams had a bone to pick with the claim that Caitlin Clark is “great” just yet.

“Okay, I think she is the Stephen Curry of women’s college basketball. I think she has changed the dynamics of the way the game’s played. I think the way she plays, the pizzaz, like, she’s probably the most prolific scorer the game of basketball has ever seen,” said Williams before issuing the very controversial statement:

“I am unwilling — and maybe it’s the Kobe mentorship around me — to say that she is great yet. In my opinion, it has to culminate with your team winning a championship.”

Jay Bilas immediately butted in to say that “she is great,” explaining why he’s so sure of that sentiment.

“She’s a cultural phenomenon unlike anything we’ve ever seen in basketball, and it goes beyond just the scoring record. She’s not just elevated the women’s game, she’s elevated the game. In that regard, he will not see her again. She’s been incredible for sports, for basketball. In my view, great isn’t even a discussion. We can argue about greatest, but we can’t argue about great.”

Trying to defend himself, Williams commented that “not having her in that upper echelon isn’t diminishing her.” However, Bilas responded, “it is a little,” with a laugh. Williams tried again to detail his position on Clark’s greatness.

“The way everybody sells her all the time, it almost feels like she’s already stamped as one of the greatest to ever do it.”

Bilas again chimed in to say: “She is one of the greatest to ever do it.” But Jay Williams pointed right back to the national title issue. “So, by the way, don’t we measure greatness by championships or no? It’s about what’s on the resume. It has nothing to do about championships anymore?”

After remaining on the sideline for much of the back-and-forth, Seth Greenberg thundered into the conversation with one final thought taking up for Clark.

“She is unique. She is special. Person I compare her to is Pistol Pete Maravich. Her scoring’s phenomenal. Her passing, her feel, her IQ — she makes it easier for everyone else on the floor. She is unique. Men, women, I don’t care, she’s just different. You win a championship, you don’t win a championship, to me, she’s just different.”

Jay Williams is certainly in the minority on this one.