Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark has become one of the most polarizing figures in sports since being drafted into the WNBA through no fault of her own.
Her name has been brought up in cultural discussions ranging from race to likeability and jealousy in the WNBA.
Several WNBA players have seemingly gone out of their way to take aim at Clark both on and off the court.
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Indiana Fever player Caitlin Clark watches the game against the Lynx at Target Center on July 14, 2024 in Minneapolis. (David Berding/Getty Images)
Clark was the victim of a flagrant foul on a blind side check by Chicago Sky’s Chennedy Carter, but a Connecticut Sun staffer said it was “seat belt season” for Clark to play against them.
Chris Brickley, a basketball trainer who has worked with Sky rookie star Angel Reese, told Fox News Digital that Clarke was in a desperate situation and there was “no doubt” people hated her.
But it goes both ways.
“You can be a really good person, a really wonderful person, and some people will hate you and some people will love you. That’s life,” Brickley said.
Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark dribbles the ball during a game against the Phoenix Mercury at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 12, 2024 in Indianapolis. (Justin Castaline/NBAE via Getty Images)
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Las Vegas Aces player A’ja Wilson caused a stir just before the start of the WNBA season when she said Clark’s being white was a “huge factor” in her popularity.
But earlier this month, Wilson said the WNBA’s “energy” has shifted from gossip and making headlines to an appreciation of the game.
“The atmosphere is good, the feel is good, the crowd is here to see us perform on the court. It was a little bit of a buzz at first, but then it started to die down because the crowd started to realize we’re really good and elite players. I like the energy right now,” Wilson said after Clark’s game against the Indiana Fever. The two hugged after the game.
“People are watching good basketball, that’s what matters. We come out here, we practice hard, we play basketball at a very high level, and people believe in it, trust in it, invest in it, and that’s the energy we’re feeling right now,” Wilson continued.
Last month, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbart She denied the idea that she was being targeted, saying it was because of the attention she was receiving and that she was treated like everyone else on court.
Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark and Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese watch a game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 16, 2024 in Indianapolis. (Emily Chin/Getty Images)
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The rookie phenom received the most votes in this weekend’s All-Star Game, becoming the only player to receive more than 700,000 votes. She beat Wilson by about 90,000 votes.
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