Ad Disclosure
Caitlin Clark reacts to latest hard foul, praised by Fever head coach
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Caitlin Clark is adjusting to life in the WNBA. One part of the former Iowa star’s pro experience that didn’t get a lot of discussion was Clark becoming a target for hard fouls.
In Saturday’s Indiana Fever win over the Chicago Sky, Clark was on the receiving end of a flagrant foul. It was originally called an off ball foul, but in postgame was deemed a flagrant foul.
The initial call could have loomed large. Clark made her 1 free throw, and the Fever went on to win 71-70.
Okay, this IS HATING on Caitlin Clark. Face guarding, extremely aggressive play and the occasional hard foul can be describe as competitiveness. Going out of your way to call her out of her name and body check her to the floor without the ball is HATING. https://t.co/osFk320wMp pic.twitter.com/cRtiSnDVkm
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) June 1, 2024
The initial call could have loomed large. Clark made her 1 free throw, and the Fever went on to win 71-70.
Clark said her focus is not letting the fouls get to her, and not to end up on the wrong end of a whistle.
“It is what it is,” Clark said after the game, per USATODAY. “I feel like I’m just at the point where I accept it, like, just let them hit you, be what it is, don’t let them get inside your head, and know it’s coming. I think at this point, I know I’m gonna take a couple hard shots a game. And that’s what it is, I’m trying not to let it bother me.
“… Usually it’s the second person that gets caught if you retaliate or something,” she added. “So I’m just trying to stay in the game, and focus on my team, and focus on what’s important.”
Fever coach Christie Sides stuck up for Clark, praising the rookie’s handling of the ongoing fouls.
“We’re just gonna keep sending these possessions to the league, these plays, and hopefully they’ll start taking a better look at some of the things that we see happening, or we think is happening,” Sides said in the postgame press conference.
“I’m just more happy that Caitlin handled it the way she did. It’s tough to keep getting hammered the way she does, and to not get rewarded with free throws or a foul call. She’s continuing to fight through that, and I appreciate that from her.”
Christie Sides on Caitlin Clark continuously getting fouled hard and not getting those calls:
Says the Fever have been submitting plays to the league throughout the season for review. pic.twitter.com/HhznXNP8Xc
— Chloe Peterson (@chloepeterson67) June 1, 2024
The Fever is back in action against the New York Liberty at 7 p.m. ET.
A former Florida beat reporter, Andrew writes for the Saturday Tradition News Desk.