Caitlin Clark, a rising star in the WNBA, faced another intense on-court incident Wednesday night when a 235-pound opponent almost smacked her in the head. This is just one of several recent episodes raising concerns for the Indiana Fever rookie’s safety, particularly following run-ins with Chicago Sky players Angel Reese and Chennedy Carter.
Clark, the first overall draft pick, led the Fever to their third consecutive victory with an impressive 88-81 win over the Washington Mystics. She notched up 18 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, and four steals. Yet, the game wasn’t without controversy. An apparent foul by the Mystic’s 6ft5in center, Stefanie Dolson, went uncalled, leaving fans fuming.
“How is this not a foul for Caitlin Clark???” one fan vented on X. Another added, “Look at this #wnba your officiating is a joke.” The criticisms kept rolling in, with one viewer comparing the officiating unfavorably to the WWE and another calling out the frequent missed calls in the league.
@dpinsen ‘Chief’ from One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, taking it out on Clark
Fury as Caitlin Clark suffers brutal arm slash by 6ft5in, 235-pound rival – as fears grow for safety of WNBA star after officials failed to award ‘blatant foul’ pic.twitter.com/LgnDvnCv95— DosXXMachina (@DuosEquis) June 20, 2024
Despite a rocky start to the season with five consecutive losses, Clark has been vocal about the need for patience. “No one came in here and said we were going to be WNBA Champions from day No 1 in our locker room,” she stated post-game. Clark emphasized their goal of making the playoffs and highlighted the team’s recent achievements, like winning four home games in a row for the first time since 2015.
Clark’s rookie season has been notably rough, with particularly aggressive play from other players. Recently, her long-time rival, Angel Reese, committed a flagrant foul by smacking Clark on the head during a game against the Chicago Sky. Reese’s teammate, Chennedy Carter, also made headlines for a brutal hip-check that knocked Clark to the ground, drawing a flagrant-1 violation.
The fierce rivalry between Clark and Reese has undeniably boosted WNBA viewership. Their recent matchup drew 2.25 million viewers, the highest in over two decades, with viewership peaking at 3 million households. This surge in popularity has also drawn unwanted attention, with some using Clark’s rising star to spread harmful agendas.
Connecticut Sun player DiJonai Carrington criticized Clark for her perceived silence in ongoing cultural debates. “Dawg. How one can not be bothered by their name being used to justify racism, bigotry, misogyny, xenophobia, homophobia & the intersectionalities of them all is nuts,” Carrington tweeted. Clark, however, pushed back against this narrative, stating, “People should not be using my name for those agendas. It’s disappointing. It’s not acceptable.”
The WNBA’s rise in viewership and Clark’s prominence highlight both the potential and the challenges facing the league. As the season progresses, all eyes will be on how the league addresses these safety concerns and the broader cultural conversations swirling around its stars. Stay tuned, folks! This story is far from over.
