Caitlin Clark’s name has appeared in countless sports headlines over the first few weeks of her first season in the WNBA.
Much of the conversation surrounding Clark has centered on the level of physical intensity the rookie faced in his first few games as a professional basketball player.
“I think people are going to be violent with me. They’re going to get away with doing things that other people wouldn’t get away with,” Clark said after the Fever’s loss to the Los Angeles Sparks on May 28.
The debate over whether Clark’s teammates were doing enough to protect her resurfaced after she was subjected to a hard foul in a game against the Chicago Sky on June 1.
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Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark (22) and Kelsey Mitchell (0) during a game against the Connecticut Sun at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 20, 2024 in Indianapolis. (Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)
Clarke has had an unprecedented college basketball career in which she has broken numerous records, but she appears to be going through an adjustment period as a top pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft.
University of Connecticut’s Geno Auriemma says Kaitlyn Clark is being ‘targeted’ by fellow WNBA stars
Clark led all rookies in many statistical categories, averaging 15.6 points and 6.4 assists through her first 11 WNBA games. She has been credited with sparking the current popularity of women’s basketball, but some have argued that the increased attention has made her a target.
Indiana Fever player Caitlin Clark reacts during the second half of a game against the Seattle Storm at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 30, 2024 in Indianapolis. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Earlier this week, one of Clark’s teammates disputed the notion that the team isn’t supporting its star guard.
“I think she should be lenient with herself and I think a lot of people in the world should be lenient with her,” Kelsey Mitchell said. “At the end of the day, not only is she a human being, she’s a young person, 22 years old. … There are things that you go through over time. I think the world should be lenient with her.”
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Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell (0) and teammate Caitlin Clark (right) play during the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the New York Liberty on May 16, 2024 in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Mitchell added that the team wanted to ensure Clark was in top form both mentally and physically.
“I really do. And I think it’s our job as a team to make sure she’s protected, of course, in terms of being mentally and physically safe. … We want her to always feel like she’s at home.”
The Fever are back in action on Friday against the Washington Mystics.
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