Indiana Fever rookie phenom Caitlin Clark has had her fair share of bumps and bruises throughout her first WNBA campaign, and she was roughed up a bit Wednesday night against the Connecticut Sun.
In the third quarter, Clark was trying to chase a Sun player when Connecticut center Alyssa Thomas laid her out with a pick on the perimeter.
Clark hit the court hard after making contact with Thomas’ right shoulder.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) goes up for a shot against Connecticut Sun guard DiJonai Carrington (21) Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, during a game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. (USA Today)
The whistle was quickly blown for an offensive foul on Thomas, but that’s all it was, a common foul.
Clark has been the victim of flagrant fouls this season, both of which came against the Chicago Sky.
The first was a check from Chennedy Carter, which made headlines in early June. Carter knocked Clark to the floor, and though it was initially called a common foul, the WNBA upgraded it to a flagrant foul.
Carter defended it after the game, calling it a “basketball play.”
Then Carter’s teammate, Angel Reese, another rookie star, hit Clark in the head on a block attempt in a different matchup with the Fever this season. Clark, again, hit the deck with force, and Reese was called for a flagrant foul after a review.
Connecticut Sun guard DiJonai Carrington (21) guards Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. (IMAGN)
Like Carter, Reese said she was just making a basketball play.
Clark broke the WNBA rookie single-season record for 3-pointers in the first quarter Wednesday, hitting a stepback 26-footer over DiJonai Carrington for her first basket of the game.
While Clark has been busting through WNBA rookie records this season, the Fever collected a tough win over the Sun, 84-80.
Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever during a game against the Connecticut Sun Aug. 28, 2024, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. (Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)
WNBA REMOVES Sheryl Swoopes From ANNOUNCE TEAM As Caitlin Clark & Indiana Fever Look For GET BACK.
Fever-Wings TV Broadcast Gets Shakeup Amid Sheryl Swoopes-Caitlin Clark Drama
Sheryl Swoopes’ disdain for Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark way have landed her in a bit of hot water.
The WNBA legend has been highly critical of the 22-year-old point guard all season long, and she recently drew the ire of several fans on social media after seemingly defending Chicago Sky guard Diamond DeShields after she fouled Clark hard from behind, knocking her to the floor.
And now, it seems Swoopes’ anti-Clark stance caused her to be removed from Sunday’s broadcast of the Fever-Dallas Wings matchup — a game in which she was supposed to serve as an analyst.
The Wings official website now lists Ron Thulin and Naismith Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman as the play-by-play and color commentators and ShaVonne Herndon as the sideline reporter.
Swoopes even seemed to confirm the news herself on X, replying “Not today Satan” to a user who commented saying she couldn’t wait to hear Swoopes’ announcing during Sunday’s game.
Swoopes has been under fire for her constant criticism of Clark, even getting called out by the likes of Stephen A. Smith and a few other media pundits.
The six-time WNBA All-Star and four-time WNBA champion didn’t do herself any favors with her post-game comments about DeShields’ blatant targeting of Clark, seemingly endorsing players taking a run at the Rookie of the Year favorite.
“Diamond DeShields head up kid!” Swoopes tweeted after Friday’s 100-81 Fever win over the Sky. “Hate will not win!! You are covered and ain’t nothing these evil people can do about that. All love for you!”
Tipoff for the Fever and Wings matchup is Sunday at 4 p.m. ET.
