“A Worthy Heir”: Simone Biles Calls Caitlin Clark the Face of a New Sports Era—Then Deletes Her Post Without Explanation, Stirring Massive Backlash

It was meant to be a moment of unity between two of America’s most iconic female athletes. Instead, it sparked a firestorm.

On Tuesday afternoon, Olympic legend Simone Biles shocked the sports world when she posted a glowing tribute to WNBA rookie sensation Caitlin Clark on her Instagram story. The post included a photo of Clark hitting a game-winning three-pointer for the Indiana Fever, captioned with a powerful quote: “Every generation has its icon. Caitlin Clark is ours. A worthy heir to the throne of greatness.”

The post instantly went viral.

Within minutes, ESPN anchors were discussing it live. Sports blogs raced to republish screenshots. Fans on X (formerly Twitter) hailed the gesture as a historic endorsement—a symbolic “passing of the torch” from one generational star to another.

But just a few hours later, the post vanished.

No explanation. No follow-up. No archived version on Biles’ profile. It was as if the moment had never happened.

Except the internet never forgets—and it certainly didn’t this time.

By nightfall, the narrative had already spun wildly out of control. Hashtags like #SimoneAndCaitlin, #DeletedPraise, and #JealousyOrJustice began trending. Theories exploded across social media and sports forums.

Was Biles pressured to take the post down? Was she criticized internally by her sponsors or federation? Or was it something more personal—a tinge of regret, even jealousy, toward the new face of American sports?

Whatever the reason, the silence was deafening.

A Symbolic Gesture—Then Silence

To understand the impact, one has to grasp the cultural weight of both women.

Simone Biles is not just a gymnast. She is the most decorated gymnast in history. A four-time Olympic gold medalist. A mental health advocate. A survivor. She transcended her sport and became a symbol of resilience, excellence, and grace under unimaginable pressure.

Caitlin Clark, by contrast, is just beginning her professional journey. Yet her rise has been meteoric. She shattered college scoring records, transformed Iowa’s women’s basketball program into a national spectacle, and now leads the WNBA in jersey sales, TV ratings, and attendance spikes.

To many, Biles acknowledging Clark was a signal: the old guard respects the new.

“It was beautiful while it lasted,” said former USA gymnast Laurie Hernandez in an interview with NBC Sports. “That kind of recognition doesn’t happen every day. But the deletion? That’s where everything went sideways.”

Theories and Backlash

Without an official comment from Biles, speculation ran wild.

One theory suggested that Biles—still a Nike athlete—may have faced internal pressure. Clark recently signed with Wilson instead of Nike, despite the company’s major push to recruit her. Some fans speculated that praising Clark publicly might have clashed with branding expectations.

Another theory pointed to the ongoing tension within the women’s sports community. Clark’s rise has been met with both adoration and critique. Some feel that media and fans have overly celebrated her, often at the expense of Black athletes like Angel Reese, A’ja Wilson, and yes—Simone Biles.

“Maybe Simone saw the backlash Clark’s been getting and felt her post could be interpreted the wrong way,” said sports journalist Jemele Hill on her podcast. “Or maybe she just wasn’t ready to wade into that cultural crossfire.”

Others were less forgiving.

“Deleting that post sends a terrible message,” wrote one user on X. “If you believe in someone, stand by it. Don’t let the mob or PR teams control your voice.”

Still, some came to Biles’ defense, arguing she owed no one an explanation.

“She can post and delete whatever she wants,” tweeted former Olympic swimmer Missy Franklin. “We shouldn’t assume malice when it could just be reconsideration.”

The Clark Camp Remains Silent

As the media frenzy intensified, Caitlin Clark stayed focused on basketball.

At a Fever press conference the following morning, a reporter asked about Biles’ post. Clark smiled, politely nodded, and said, “Simone Biles is one of my heroes. That’s all I’ll say.”

She didn’t address the deletion.

Her agent, meanwhile, declined to comment entirely.

But inside WNBA circles, the moment had already become a topic of heated debate.

“She’s the face of the league right now, whether we like it or not,” one anonymous player told The Athletic. “If Biles can’t even compliment her without drama, that says more about us than about her.”

Old Wounds, New Pressure

The episode also reopened old wounds within women’s sports—about race, representation, and recognition.

When Clark was left off Team USA’s Olympic roster earlier this month, some argued it was a basketball decision based on experience. Others believed it was politically motivated—to avoid overshadowing veterans or inflaming team chemistry.

Biles’ deleted praise came in the wake of that snub—and some fans felt it highlighted a deeper issue.

“We keep saying we want women’s sports to grow,” said YouTube sports analyst Keiana Jackson. “But then we tear down the ones who bring the growth. And when someone legendary like Simone Biles shows support, even she gets dragged. That’s not progress. That’s sabotage.”

A Subtle Response?

While Biles hasn’t spoken publicly, eagle-eyed fans noticed something curious.

Two days after the deletion, Biles liked a tweet that read: “Sometimes you say something true and realize the world isn’t ready to hear it yet.”

It was the only tweet she engaged with related to the controversy.

Cryptic? Perhaps. But for many, it was enough to suggest regret—or at least a complicated inner conflict.

“She meant what she said. But maybe she wasn’t ready to deal with the fallout,” said journalist Taylor Rooks on NBA on TNT. “That’s the cost of being both famous and female in this era.”

Bigger Than Both of Them

In the end, the incident became less about Simone Biles or Caitlin Clark, and more about the world watching them.

It exposed the fragile ecosystem of women’s sports—a place where praise can be weaponized, where silence can be louder than applause, and where one deleted post can start a cultural earthquake.

Yet amid the storm, there was still a silver lining.

Because for one brief afternoon, the greatest gymnast of all time called a rookie basketball player “a worthy heir.”

And millions of girls watching sports saw something they’ve rarely seen before: legacy meeting potential, across generations, across sports, and across divides.

Maybe that’s the story that matters most.

Even if it was only visible for a few hours before it disappeared from Simone Biles’ story—its impact lingers, louder than ever.