The controversy began after the July 19 All-Star Game in Indianapolis. Players wore “Pay Us What You Owe Us” shirts in a show of unity during collective bargaining talks with the league. During the postgame press conference, Plum joked that “zero members of Team Clark were very present” for the pregame meeting about the shirts.

Los Angeles Sparks star Kelsey Plum said she was joking when she took a verbal shot at Caitlin Clark and her team at the All-Star Game last month, comments that drew significant pushback. “I made a really bad joke,” Plum said on Sue Bird's “Bird's Eye View” podcast that dropped Friday.

Los Angeles Sparks star Kelsey Plum said it was a poor attempt at humor when she gave the impression that players from the All-Star team captained by Caitlin Clark were mentally checked out during an important meeting prior to the contest.