Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark has faced a turbulent start to her WNBA career, prompting considerable debate among fans and analysts. The top pick in this year’s draft has struggled through her first 11 games, encountering aggressive opposition and a physical style of play that has led to backlash against her and other players. UConn women’s coach Geno Auriemma recently spoke out in defense of Clark and criticized her detractors.
Clark, known for her stellar college career, has not received a warm reception from her professional peers. Opponents have targeted her physically, with Chennedy Carter of the Chicago Sky even receiving a retroactive Flagrant 1 foul for a shoulder check against Clark. Frustrated, Clark has publicly called out the officiating in her games, prompting some to argue that she is being unfairly singled out. However, Auriemma believes the criticism aimed at Clark is misplaced.
“If you’re a great college player like Caitlin was, the delusional fan base that follows her disrespected the WNBA players by saying that she’s going to go in that league and tear it apart,” Auriemma stated on “The Dan Patrick Show” this week. “These people are so disrespectful, so unknowledgeable, and so stupid that it gives women’s basketball a bad name. So the kid was set up for failure right from the beginning.”
Auriemma emphasized that Clark is managing adversity well and needs time to adapt to the professional game’s physical demands. “I think she’s handling it great,” he said. “I think she talks a lot of s–t, and she gets a lot of s–t back. She deserves everything she gets because she gives it as good as she gets it. She’s just not built for the physicality of this league, and she’s not quick enough to get away from the physicality.”
Despite the challenges, Auriemma remains optimistic about Clark’s future, highlighting her elite skills and potential once she adjusts to the WNBA’s rigours. “When she gets it, she has elite skills that are going to help her,” he added. “She needs to be on a better team, and she needs experience.”
Clark has been under intense scrutiny even before the 2024 WNBA season began, with the attention only increasing in recent weeks. Regardless, she remains focused on her primary goal. “I’m just trying to show up and help this team get better,” Caitlin Clark said.
As Caitlin Clark continues to navigate her rookie season, the support from figures like Auriemma underscores her belief in her potential to thrive once she acclimates to the professional level.
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