Caitlin Clark remains the center of discussion in the WNBA universe as the first five games of the 44-game season are just about in the books. Already, there’s more than enough drama in Indiana. Clark’s fans aren’t thrilled about the team’s 2-2 record, but as long as she continues to rack up 20-point, 10-assist games and they can call her the best player in the W, the losses probably don’t hurt much to them.
Clark Misses Game With Bad Back
Clark’s bad back has been a growing concern for the Indiana Fever early in this season and her team was able to pull out a 90-73 win over the expansion Portland Fire on Wednesday night without their star guard. Aliyah Boston has 24 points and Kelsey Mitchell chipped in 21 for a fast and free-flowing Fever offense as noted by announcer Tamika Catchings.
With everything that surrounds Clark, there was drama. The Indiana Fever didn’t announce Clark’s injury and absence until right before the game.
One fan, Polymarket Hoops on X, didn’t like how it all went down and also expressed a dislike for reports that Clark’s injuries would be load managed all season. The post went as far as to accuse Indiana of trying to hinder Clark’s career in some way. Even suggesting she could be on her way out.
“The Fever could be driving Caitlin Clark out of Indiana:
Last night, she was expected to suit up, and 1.5 hours before the game, she was announced out, which is a direct violation of injury reports.
They also reportedly plan to load manage her all season despite her suggesting that she’s healthy and only 24. Tension in the locker room over Caitlin’s popularity.”
It’s never Cailtin Clark’s fault. Unless it’s good. Those are the sentiments that her fans express anytime things don’t seem to work out for the basketball icon or fit the narrative that they have preached about her greatness.
Fans Comment On Latest Caitlin Clark Back Drama: Is She Leaving Indiana?
“It’s called consequences of her behavior. Show us who is trying to punish the Fever bc WNBA Fans have Caitlin Clark Fatigue and she’s clearly the reason for the toxicity in Indiana,” said one netizen.
“They really don’t like that the best player is white,” one fan quipped.
“She’s also straight which I can’t imagine goes over very well in those locker rooms,” added another fan.
“Then you know what?
Caitlin needs to speak up.
At the very least, go to the union.
If the union isn’t interested, she needs to go to the media.
She has more power than she thinks.
She can blow up the Fever.
She can blow up the league,” one irate Fever fan commented.
Some social media users felt the situation was once again being blown out of proportion.
“If she’s hurting, she’s hurting. What do people want the fever to do, force her to play injured? I’ve felt fine, then tweaked my back and was in pain in a second. I’m sure They hoped she’d feel up to playing, she didn’t, so they pulled her. I don’t get the outrage. People need to calm down,” one fan said on X.
“She was just on a podcast with AB. There have been no reports of tension in the locker room from anyone connected with the team that I can find. On the court and on the bench, there doesn’t seem to be friction amongst the players. It’s just a strange storyline people created,” one fan said, disputing any suggestions that there is jealousy or tension in the locker room.
Caitlin Clark Joins Candace Parker & Aliyah Boston Podcast: Doesn’t Disagree She’s A Crashout On The Court
Clark has been criticized for what is perceived by some as an entitled or bad attitude. The fact that she has never won a championship on any level including high school and college is always fodder for those who feel she is overrated and her popularity is driven by a racial agenda.
In a recent episode of Candace Parker and Indiana Fever Star Aliyah Boston’s “Post Moves” podcast, Caitlin Clark made her first appearance on the show and a hot topic was the grief that Clark consistently gives referees.
“Caitlin’s crashouts … like you … she will keep going. She’ll walk up to them and be like, ‘Are you kidding me,’ and I have to grab her and we have to walk away. Then I’m grabbing her and she’s still looking back and talking smack,” Boston recalls.
CC and Boston both broke out into laughter, but Clark did have to let it be known that she didn’t appreciate the forcefulness of Boston’s push as she jolted her toward the bench and away from a technical foul. That’s what leaders do and Boston knows part of her role is to keep the emotional CC in pocket.
“She pushed me, Clark said. “That was crazy. Little did you know I did that to AB for pushing me. I said, ‘AB never again.’”
Clark was comfortable and very talkative and more relaxed than you see her on the court.
WNBA Fans Continue To Criticize Clark’s Court Decorum: Clark Argues With Assistant Coach
As her career advances one thing we realize is that she’s not the easiest personality to play with. She stays dogging the refs, and a recent video of her interaction with Indiana Fever assistant coach and WNBA champion Briann January, during a 89-78 win over the Seattle Storm on May 17, has gone viral and drawn a mixed bag of criticism and loyal defense.
One post, captioned the video with a sarcastic jab at Clark
“Two-time runner-up Caitlin Clark and WNBA champion assistant coach Briann January share a quick moment on the bench.”
Another repost of the video was more blatant with their admonishment of Clark’s heated interaction during a game, which some might not feel is that uncommon between players and coaches. Especially your “star” player.
“Slowly but surely, everyone will eventually see her for what she is, ” the caption read.
Fans Defend Clark Against Video Of Her Arguing With Assistant Coach
The shots at Clark, insinuating that she’s uncoachable or has an attitude problem, infuriated her supporters, some of which turned the conversation into an attack on how irrelevant the assistant coach is and how she shouldn’t be offending Clark. Some white fans cried racism against Caitlin Clark and blamed the Black race for being jealous of her superior game.
“Your star player is on a roll, playing better than everyone on the court, and you mess with her head with a shouting match in public in the middle of a game? That’s not smart coaching,” one fan said.
“You definitely never played any sports before lmao, believe it or not in sports players usually like to show emotion but maybe go watch soccer if you think this video “will make people see her for what she is”. If you wanna go there let’s talk about all the records she broke,” said another Clark fan.
“I’ll tell you what she is … Rookie of the year, first team all pro.. 2 time allstar … what was she supposed to do by now to have 2 rings ?? Aja the MVP of the league didn’t get one till year 4,” added another bringing four-time MVP and three-time champion A’ja Wilson into the conversation.
The defense of what some people see as CC’s tantrums continued:
“And that’s a great player. I’m glad cc doesn’t kiss ass. She’s a woman that’s standing on business if someone hollers at you crazy u get crazy I respect her for standing up for herself go cc,” one user commented.
“Has that whole race of people gotten soft or just the ones that hate straight white girls playing their sport?,” a frustrated fan quipped.
“Black people’s hate for Caitlin Clark made me a fan of hers. I think the wnba is trash filled with trannys and lesbians but good for Caitlin,” one user disrespectfully stated.
Caitlin Clark Breaking Records While Dealing With Bad Back
Last Friday, Clark recorded her 11th career game with at least 20 points and 10 assists, giving her the most in league history. Then, in her 57th career game this past Sunday, Clark scored 21 points and dished out 10 assists in the home win against the Seattle Storm for her 12th career 20-10 game. It was her second straight 20-10 performance after doing so twice in 13 games last year.
