This is the third season Caitlin Clark has been in the WNBA. The way it’s going so far, it could be her last. From the look of things from 1400 miles away, it would seem that Clark is disliked by the league, her fellow WNBA players, and her own team; the team that made her the number one pick in the 2024 WNBA draft.
Coming to the WNBA right after a record-setting college career, she made an immediate impact on her team and the league by setting four rookie single season records plus several Indiana Fever team records. At times, it seemed the Fever were playing five on six because Clark was double-teamed and triple-teamed all the time and was hacked, poked, tripped, or screened out on play after play. At other times it appeared she was being targeted to intimidate and discourage her, while it often looked like other players were intentionally trying to hurt her. She played through it, but it seemed to be affecting her level of play. Her shooting eye seemed less on target than before.
2024 was an Olympic year and to the chagrin of many, she was left off the Olympic women’s basketball team. A lot of excuses were made for that, but in the minds of her millions of fans, none of them held water. Year two of her career was met with an Indiana Fever coaching change. Christy Sides, the Coach during Clark’s rookie season, was fired and replaced by Stephanie White, an Indiana women’s basketball legend. The Fever also traded for Dawanna Bonner, a 17-year veteran, whose tenure with the Fever was confusing and lasted only 9 games when she was suddenly waived and sent to the Phoenix Mercury.
Clark’s second season was beset with leg and groin injuries, and Stephanie White, her new coach, wasn’t in place long enough before Clark’s injuries to see what dynamic formed their player-coach relationship.
One thread has been very clear, though, all three seasons of her WNBA career. Clark has been subjected to more physical punishment than any player I can remember. From forearms to the face, shoulder and hip butts, pokes in the eye, and a fist in the neck, Clark has withstood significant punishment inflicted intentionally.
Breanna Stewart, a veteran player, set a pick that Clark ran into at full speed knocking her to the floor and forcing her to sit out until she was clear-headed.
Kai Nurse and Ari McDonald double-teamed Clark., pressed her full court, face guarded her, and intimidated her into a bad performance.
Victoria Vivens chest bumped Clark after an aggressive drive by Clark.
Chennedy Carter knocked Clark to the floor on an inbounds play then refused to answer questions about the encounter.
Jonquel Jones ruptured Clark’s eardrum when Jones was trying to steal the ball.
Angel Reese hit Clark in the head with her forearm while trying to block her shot on a fast break.
She’s been poked in the eye twice (by DiJonai Carrington and Jacy Sheldon) had an elbow to the nose, and had the ball knocked out of her hands.
When fans object to the way Clark is being treated, they are called racist
Then came June 24th, and the knee in the groin and fist to the neck “heard around the world.”Fans were livid. Boycotting the Fever games, firing the coaching staff, and dissolving the Fever organization were all thrown out for discussion. The whole situation was defused by Clark’s failure to criticize any of the offending parties and her adversaries, and remaining silent, instead. The WNBA, the Fever front office, the coaching staff, and league referees would have stepped on their collective male genitalia, if they had any. They have blown the Caitlin Clark issue to smithereens!
Talk about biting the hand that feeds you! Caitlin Clark made the WNBA relevant after 30 years of mediocrity, low game attendance, and lower TV ratings. Fans love her! She’s exciting. You want to root for her and you want her to win, but being coached wrong and not letting the Fever be “HER” team has frustrated Caitlin, severely. Stephanie White is making the Fever play her way and not allowing Clark to use her enormous talent to the maximum, as she did at Iowa, and run an offense suited to Clark’s game.
Negative indicators come from the Fever management and the WNBA all the time. The Fever drafted Raven Johnson, a player with the same skills, who plays the same position as Clark. The WNBA omits Clark from the ‘24 Olympic team roster. Coach White sits her midway through the first quarter and brings her back in only after a lead is squandered. The W fails to recognize Clark as the face of the league and acknowledge her popularity is the reason salaries, attendance, and TV ratings are all up. The refs look the other way when opponents commit egregious fouls, but she gets technicals for clapping. The entire situation is a mess.
What should Caitlin Clark do? I don’t know, but what she has done so far is perfect. She has been silent on every aspect of this mess. She has not whined. She has not called anyone out, or accused anyone of anything. She has not bad-mouthed the league, complained about the Fever organization, or criticized her coach. She has been professional and let others do the talking for her. I hope someone with clout, wisdom, and good judgement will provide her the proper guidance, or intervene and straighten things out.
Clark has a number of options. She can stick with the Fever and make the best of a bad situation. She can demand a trade and play for a team that better suits her talent. She could play for a team in Europe. I’ve also heard she could start her own alternative league. Or she could quit basketball and do something else. Whatever she decides, I have a feeling it will be the right decision. Her maturity and inner strength will be the means by which she will come out ok.
References: www.google.com/view/article/caitlin-clark-WNBA-records
