Caitlin Clark Talks Smack, Gets Technical After Nailing Three-Pointer vs. Storm

May 31, 2024 Jimm Sallivan

There have been plenty of people making a run at Caitlin Clark during her rookie season in the WNBA, as defenses hone in on the Indiana Fever’s star guard as the focal point of their defensive game plan.

Clark hasn’t been one to back down from the competition, however, and after draining a big three-pointer against the Seattle Storm on Thursday night, she could be seen getting face-to-face with one of her opponents.

While walking back on defense after her deep three, Clark could be seen jawing back and forth with Storm’s Victoria Vivians. The pair got up close and in each other’s faces before Aliyah Boston swooped in and pulled her teammate out of the situation.

SPICY CAITLIN CLARK HAS ARRIVED 🌶️🚨

pic.twitter.com/FtZ8VaLYpL

— Women’s Hoops Network (@WomensHoops_USA) May 30, 2024

Clark didn’t look too pleased with Vivians as she turned to head back down the court, and they appeared to bump shoulders before being separated.

Officials assessed Vivians and Clark with double technical fouls and play resumed shortly after. Thursday’s incident marks the second technical of the season for Indiana’s prized rookie, having picked up her first in a game against the Connecticut Sun on May 20.

11 Jun 24 Jimm Sallivan

WNBA Announces Record TV Ratings, Highest Attendance in 26 Years

Business is booming in the WNBA, largely thanks to the highly coveted rookie class headlined by the likes of Caitlin Clark, Cameron Brink and Angel Reese, among others.

With the first month of the 2024 season officially past, the league announced its TV ratings and attendance details for the month of May. It comes as no surprise that both are up massively compared to last year, with TV ratings reaching all-time highs and attendance at its highest mark in 26 years.

The league reported that approximately 400,000 fans attended WNBA games in May, the most the league has recorded since 1998. More than half of the league's games have resulted in sellouts, an increase of 156% over last season.

In terms of television viewership, the league noted that WNBA games have logged an average viewership of 1.32 million viewers per game across ESPN, ESPN 2, ABC and CBS. That figure is almost three times more than last season.

The season-opening matchup between Clark's Indiana Fever and the Connecticut Sun recorded an average of 2.12 million viewers on ESPN 2, ESPN+ and Disney+, making it the most-watched WNBA game on any Disney platform in history.

Six days later, the Fever's rematch against the Sun on ESPN drew the largest TV audience for any WNBA game on the network with an average of 1.56 millions viewers.

Furthermore, merchandise sales have skyrocketed. The WNBA reports that the WNBAstore website has received a staggering increase in transactions of more than 756% compared to this time last year.

1 Jun 24 Jimm Sallivan

Sky’s Chennedy Carter Committed a Hard Off-Ball Foul on Caitlin Clark, and Fans are Heated

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark was on the receiving end of a hard off-ball foul late in the third quarter of Saturday’s matchup against the Chicago Sky.

On a Fever inbounding play, the Sky’s Chennedy Carter bumped Clark to the floor and was assessed a common away-from-play foul, not a flagrant foul.

Chennedy Carter fouls Caitlin Clark on the inbound. Away-from-play foul called. pic.twitter.com/LodLF5oKMF
— Matthew Byrne (@MatthewByrne1) June 1, 2024

Clark appeared shaken up after the play, and when the quarter ended, she appealed to the refs for a harsher punishment for Carter. In an interview after the third quarter, Clark called Carter’s foul “not a basketball play.”

In the Fever’s loss to the Seattle Storm on Thursday, Clark had complained about the level of physicality in the league.

“I feel like I’m getting hammered,” Clark said.

WNBA fans weighed in on the hard foul:

Look how hyped Angel Reese is on the bench after Caitlin Clark takes a cheap shot 😭 pic.twitter.com/GyeG1Q6OhZ
— Emo Jimmy (@WheelerJaylen) June 1, 2024

The league got a bounty on Caitlin Clark pic.twitter.com/aY2qlA2SOb
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) June 1, 2024

I’m starting to think some WNBA players don’t like Caitlin Clark very much
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) June 1, 2024

What is wrong with all of these WNBA players. They’ve turned into Draymond Green level maniacs out here. You could make a compilation at this point and it’s only ten games into Caitlin Clark’s career pic.twitter.com/QTzJ5DeMTW
— 🆁🆄🆂🆃🆈 (@PacersStatsMuse) June 1, 2024

WNBA players just body checking Caitlin Clark now
They’re gonna kill the golden goose
NFL protects QBs.
WNBA needs to protect stars pic.twitter.com/XpjSVGy1AA
— Jason McIntyre (@jasonrmcintyre) June 1, 2024

Teresa Weatherspoon is chatting with Chennedy Carter. Presumably about that play with Caitlin.
Clark described it as “not a basketball play” during her sideline interview.
I’m inclined to agree. I understand chirping goes on, but ball was nowhere around. Didn’t need that.
— Meghan L. Hall (@ItsMeghanLHall) June 1, 2024

Despite Carter's foul, the Fever clinched its first home win of the season, beating the Sky 71–70. Clark finished with 11.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists, shooting 4-of-11 from the field and 2-of-9 from three.

In a postgame press conference, Carter refused to comment on her altercation with Clark.

“I ain’t answering no Caitlin Clark questions,” Carter told reporters.

1 Jun 24 Jimm Sallivan

Caitlin Clark Decries Chennedy Carter’s Hard Foul During Fever’s Win Over Sky

Saturday's game between the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky was supposed to be a celebration of the WNBA's most heralded rookie class ever, with Fever guard Caitlin Clark squaring off against Sky forward Angel Reese and center Kamilla Cardoso.

While still a memorable game—Indiana won 71–70—it became yet another unfortunate referendum on Clark's reputation throughout the league.

Late in the third quarter, Chicago guard Chennedy Carter slammed into Clark on an inbounds pass and was called for an off-ball foul.

When the quarter was over, Clark was asked about the foul.

“Yeah, that’s just not a basketball play,” Clark said via The New York Post. “But you know I’ve gotta play through it, that’s what basketball is about at this level.”

Chennedy Carter fouls Caitlin Clark on the inbound. Away-from-play foul called. pic.twitter.com/LodLF5oKMF
— Matthew Byrne (@MatthewByrne1) June 1, 2024

With the win, the youthful Fever improved to 2–8 on the season.

US Sports News

Caitlin Clark Talks Smack, Gets Technical After Nailing Three-Pointer vs. Storm

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Jimm Sallivan