Is Caitlin Clark Treated 'Harshly' or Is the WNBA Just Tough?
WNBA rookie Caitlin Clark, the phenomenal basketball talent captivating audiences worldwide, ignited a sea of orange at a Washington arena on Friday night. Residents of the city, along with fans from nearby Maryland and Virginia, preferred to sport Clark’s orange Indiana Fever jersey over the red and blue of the local Washington Mystics as they came to witness the star in action.
When Clark’s name was announced before the game—which the Fever narrowly won—the crowd erupted in cheers for the basketball sensation. “I’m technically a Wizards fan,” said Briana Florez, a 26-year-old from Maryland, referring to the local NBA team. “And a Washington fan in general—but tonight, we’re Caitlin Clark fans.”
The enthusiastic support for Clark in Washington followed a week of intense debate and speculation about the physical challenges she’s faced since joining the league in March. The highly anticipated prospect has encountered rigorous defensive strategies and tough plays from opponents during her short time in the WNBA.
Supporters of Clark have highlighted several particularly rough plays, with one foul, in particular, drawing national attention. During a game last Saturday, Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter delivered a sharp shoulder-check to Clark, causing her to fall to the ground—a moment that was replayed repeatedly on sports shows and sparked widespread conversation about the treatment of the rookie.
New fans and analysts, many of whom are tuning into the WNBA for the first time due to its rising popularity, have criticized the aggressive play. However, longtime viewers of women’s basketball argue that such reactions are overblown.
“I’m just taken aback that the new fans are so shocked,” said Candace Buckner, a sports columnist for the Washington Post who frequently covers women’s basketball. “It’s a contact sport. It’s almost as if you were a new opera fan and you were surprised there was music.”
Opinions among fans at Friday’s game were mixed. Some believed Clark was receiving an unnecessarily tough initiation into the league, while others felt she was simply being closely guarded because of her exceptional talent.
“I think she is treated a little bit harshly,” said Susan Abed, a 63-year-old business owner from Virginia who came to Washington to watch Clark play. “I think a lot of players are probably jealous because of the money she’s making.”
Ashley See, a 38-year-old librarian, commented, “You’re gonna get hit. It’s just the nature of the sport. It’s not a full contact sport, so nobody’s expecting you’re going to get, like, laid out. But, you know, I think a little bit of contact is normal.”
Following the scrutiny and public criticism, the league upgraded Carter’s foul to a flagrant one. Fever coach Christie Sides called Carter’s move “unacceptable” and said the team had submitted a compilation of plays for league review, alleging Clark had been inappropriately treated.
“It’s tough to keep getting hammered the way she does and not get rewarded with free throws or foul calls,” Sides said last week.
With women’s basketball rapidly gaining popularity, Clark’s influence is undeniable. She has drawn massive crowds, similar to her college days at the University of Iowa, where she became a once-in-a-generation phenomenon.
Drafted as the first overall pick by the Indiana Fever in April, Clark’s star power has attracted a flood of new fans to the WNBA. The Fever’s home game attendance has already surpassed last season’s total after just five games, with an average of 15,886 fans across their first 11 games, both home and away.
The interest in Friday’s game was so high that it was moved from the 4,200-seat Entertainment & Sports Arena to the 20,300-seat Capital One Arena, home of the NBA’s Washington Wizards, which sold out for the event.
Melissa Isaacson, a sportswriter and professor at Northwestern University, emphasized the need to appreciate Clark’s impact on the league. “At a minimum level, she has brought eyes to the game,” she told the BBC.
This heightened attention might explain the tough reception Clark has faced. Insiders have warned her to prepare for a different level of play as a professional, particularly given her recognized skill.
“Reality is coming,” said WNBA legend Diana Taurasi during Clark’s final college tournament. “You look superhuman playing against some 18-year-olds, but you’re going to come play with some grown women that have been playing professional basketball for a long time.”
Clark’s tough coverage on the court underscores that other players view her as a significant offensive threat. Comparisons have been made to Michael Jordan, who faced similar rough treatment in his rookie year. The Detroit Pistons even developed the notorious “Jordan Rules” to counter his extraordinary talent.
Despite the challenges, Clark has managed to hold her own in the more difficult professional league. She has played the most minutes of any WNBA rookie and, after a grueling college season, is still adjusting to the professional level. The Fever, with a 3-9 record, ranks 10th in the league.
Following her rough game against the New York Liberty, where she scored just three points, Clark bounced back on Friday, scoring 30 points and leading her team in minutes played.
“Caitlin is a star,” said Buckner. “I just hope her fans realize the WNBA didn’t get created three months ago so Caitlin Clark had somewhere to play.”
Clark has remained relatively quiet amid the ongoing discourse about her reception in the league. “It is what it is,” she said about the shoulder-check that drew so much attention. “It’s a physical game.”
