While the WNBA is still building up its fanbase, Caitlin Clark is definitely one of the biggest draws when it comes to the preferred players and their skills. She has managed to take the basketball world by storm since her debut in 2024. No matter what any player says, her raw talent and skill from beyond the arc has given credibility to the league. Her publicity has allowed other key players to be showcased more, such as Paige Bueckers and Breanna Stewart.
During the game between Indiana Fever and Seattle Storm, Clark broke a league record by being the first player to record 40 points and ten assists in a single game. On top of that, she became one of only ten Indiana players in the history of the team to score 45 points in a game. While this is impressive, it doesn’t seem to be enough to make everyone forget the animosity other players have against her and the signs that she’s had enough.
Ever since Clark’s debut in the WNBA, players have made it clear that they don’t respect her and have done everything they can to make her feel unwelcome. It’s clear from Angel Reese’s verbal jabs and her belief that people are watching WNBA to see other players that she’s not a fan. Also, Alyssa Thomas using Clark’s throat as a place to push her fist hasn’t been the warmest of welcomes to the league.
After recent issues leaving her injured, Clark has made it clear that she’s tired of what she sees as preferential treatment for other players from the referees and other staff. In a recent interview, she spoke about her most recent injury and how she feels as though this sort of physicality is unnecessary, and the ref’s calls are ‘ridiculous.’ While there was a time that she was being bullied without any cause, the narrative has seemingly shifted.
During Indiana’s game against the Golden State Valkyries, Clark was part of a controversial call that left her with a foul and a possible contusion on her leg. Golden State’s defense was focused on keeping her from getting her shots off, but the issue is her reaction to the lack of a foul on the other team. According to Clark, Kiah Stokes kneed her in the leg during one of her offensive runs. After closer look at the replay, many deemed it unintentional with some wondering where the contact on Kiah’s end was at all.
Clark has spent the majority of her pro career standing her ground against bullies from every team, and they don’t seem to be changing anytime soon. During her first year, she made sure to tough it out and prove her worth on and off the court. During her 2024 season, she played every game of the 40-game season. In 2025, she ended up missing 31 of the 44 regular season games. So far in 2026, she has only played 13 games while she sat out 22 of them due to a right groin injury and other muscle injuries.
Clark still manages to pull outstanding numbers during the games she does play. On the other hand, many wonder if all of her injury time is truly due to injuries or if she simply doesn’t want to deal with the bullying anymore. Either way, her spirit may be breaking, or her body is taxed to a point that she’s not used to.
With Clark staying out of games and not maintaining her usual three-point average, one wonders if the more physical defense is too much for her to handle. Even with her records against Seattle, fans wonder if she can keep up this output or if she’ll find a scapegoat when faced with too much pressure on the court.
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