New York, NY – Basketball player Caitlin Clark made a surprise appearance on “Saturday Night Live” after comedian Michael Che made a sexist joke at her expense. Che joked about the University of Iowa replacing Clark’s retired jersey with an apron, prompting Clark to confront him during the show.
During the “Weekend Update” segment, Che introduced Clark ahead of the WNBA draft, where she is anticipated to be the No. 1 overall pick. Clark didn’t hold back, calling out Che for his jokes about women’s sports. Che’s co-host Colin Jost joined in, sharing a compilation of Che’s past jokes to expose his track record.
Despite the banter, Clark praised Che for his comedy skills and even challenged him to read some jokes she had written. Che read Clark’s jokes, including one about the WNBA team Indiana Fever and another about a Netflix show, with Clark poking fun at Che in each of them.
As the segment concluded, Che wished Clark luck in her WNBA career, and Clark paid tribute to the female athletes who paved the way for her success. She mentioned basketball legends such as Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie, Cynthia Cooper, Dawn Staley, and Maya Moore as her inspirations.
To wrap up the lighthearted exchange, Clark gifted Che an apron signed by her, teasing him about not having a girlfriend to give it to. The playful banter between the two added a humorous touch to the show and highlighted the mutual respect between the basketball star and the comedian.