The first half of the WNBA season got here to a detailed on Wednesday night time, because the league will break for the All-Star Game in Phoenix this weekend and the Paris Olympics after that.
This downtime makes for an excellent second of reflection, particularly for Indiana Fever first general decide, Caitlin Clark.
Yes, she can be current in Phoenix to tackle Team USA as a part of Team WNBA within the All-Star Game, however since she did not make the Olympic squad (extra on that later), Clark can have the possibility to look again on what she’s been capable of accomplish, in addition to the media whirlwind that began seemingly the second she stepped on a WNBA courtroom.
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Caitlin Clark, #22 of the Indiana Fever, handles the ball throughout the recreation on July 17, 2024, on the College Park Center in Arlington, TX. (Michael Gonzales/NBAE through Getty Images)
Let’s take our personal look at the beginning of Clark’s WNBA profession, starting with the various controversies she confronted proper at her very first press convention as a member of the Fever.
Gregg Doyel drama
Indy Star columnist Gregg Doyel’s awkward feedback towards Clark made headlines at her introductory press convention with the Fever, as he requested whether or not she “preferred that” after making a coronary heart along with his arms earlier than asking her a query.
The interplay finally led to an apology from Doyel, and the Indy Star took him off the Fever beat for the season.
A’ja Wilson invokes race when discussing Clark’s recognition
A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces informed the media at the beginning of the WNBA season that she believed race got here into play when discussing why Clark was so instantly standard across the nation.
“I believe it’s an enormous factor. I believe lots of people might say it’s not about black and white, however to me, it’s. It actually, is since you will be top-notch at what you might be as a black girl, however but possibly that’s one thing that individuals don’t need to see,” Wilson told The Associated Press when requested about what function race may play in Clark’s attraction.
“It doesn’t matter what all of us do as black ladies, we’re nonetheless going to be swept beneath the rug. That’s why it boils my blood when individuals say it’s not about race, as a result of it’s.”
WNBA CHAMPION A’JA WILSON DISMISSES ACCUSATIONS SHE’S ‘JEALOUS’ OF CAITLIN CLARK: ‘I HAVE NO REASON TO BE’
Wilson ended up altering the tune of her ideas on Clark.
“She’s studying and rising like everybody else,” she stated. “I really feel like individuals do not give her an opportunity. We inform our rookies each single day, ‘This is new. You’re coming into a complete different new world and beginning over.’ So, these questions are solely annoying as a result of she’s younger. She’s a rookie. You preserve asking us these questions as if she’s a grown-ass girl that is been on this league for years. No, she’s doing her job. We’re doing ours, and on the finish of the day, that is how we develop, is once we get higher and do issues like that.”
Chennedy Carter Tech
It rapidly turned the WNBA foul heard ‘around the world, when the Chicago Sky veteran guard shoulder-checked Clark, who was on the lookout for an inbound go after a bucket.
It was dominated a standard foul within the second, however the WNBA later upgraded it to a flagrant-1 violation.
However, the foul become the most well liked matter in sports activities, as each speak present mentioned the play and what it stated about how Clark was being obtained within the WNBA.
Later, Carter would lastly reply questions in regards to the foul after initially refusing to talk on it. She stated she had no regrets over something that had occurred.
Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter (7) guards Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) on June 1, 2024, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire through Getty Images)
Pat McAfee’s ‘white b—-’ remark goes viral
The sports activities character was attempting to defend Clark, however many believed he had taken it too far when he referred to her as a “white b—” throughout a monologue on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show.”
Pat McAfee later clarified that he hadn’t been insulting Clark.
“I shouldn’t have used ‘white b—-‘ as a descriptor of Caitlin Clark,” McAfee wrote. “No matter the context. even when we’re speaking about race being a cause for a number of the stuff taking place. I’ve manner an excessive amount of respect for her and ladies to place that into the universe.
“My intentions when saying it have been complimentary, identical to your complete section, however a whole lot of people are saying that it definitely wasn’t in any respect. That’s 100% on me and for that I apologize… I’ve despatched an apology to Caitlin as effectively.
PAT MCAFEE WALKS BACK ‘WHITE B—’ COMMENT ABOUT CAITLIN CLARK: ‘I HAVE WAY TOO MUCH RESPECT FOR HER’
Left off Olympic Team
Many believed Clark was destined to make the 12-woman squad heading to Paris to symbolize the United States in ladies’s basketball on the Olympics.
However, when the Olympic roster was introduced, Clark wasn’t on it.
Outrage ensued, particularly after USA ladies’s basketball choice committee chair Jen Rizzotti known as it “irresponsible” to place Clark on the roster, saying recognition hadn’t come into play when deciding whether or not she ought to make it.
Clark took the excessive highway, saying she wished nothing however the very best for the squad and hoped to someday be on it. But the likes of Serena Williams, Stephen A. Smith, Paul Pierce and plenty of others weighed in on the state of affairs.
Caitlin Clark, #22 of the Indiana Fever, and Angel Reese, #5 of the Chicago Sky, look on throughout a recreation at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 16, 2024, in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
Angel Reese’s Head Smack
The rivalry between these two gamers stems again to their days battling in faculty, so when Reese appeared to smack Clark throughout the top whereas going for a block, the technical foul turned the most recent speaking level within the WNBA.
Reese defended the play after the June 16 recreation, saying it was “a basketball play,” and Clark believed it was as effectively. But controversy started when social media chimed in, as Clark had been roughed up in earlier video games.
WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes started taking difficulty with the protection of the fouls on Clark, saying “we will’t make it look like she was assaulted.” Fellow WNBA legend Swin Cash additionally known as it “nasty work” how the media have been overlaying Reese’s tech.
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert would later go on “The TODAY Show,” the place she scoffed on the notion gamers within the league have been concentrating on Clark.
Breaking information
Despite the controversies Clark has been wrapped up in, the Fever No. 1 general decide has seemingly gotten higher with every recreation performed.
The stat sheet and the file books again it up.
– WNBA single-game assists file: Wednesday night time introduced the most recent Clark file, as she recorded 19 assists within the loss to the Dallas Wings on the highway.
Courtney Vandersloot beforehand held the file at 18 assists, which she set on August 31, 2020.
– Fastest participant to 400 factors & 200 assists in a season: Not solely did the 19 assists set a single-game file, it helped Clark attain one other milestone, which couldn’t have been accomplished with out her team-high 24 factors as effectively.
Clark wanted simply 26 video games to succeed in 400 factors and 200 assists. The earlier low in WNBA historical past was by legend Sue Bird, who wanted 33 video games to take action.
Caitlin Clark, #22 of the Indiana Fever, handles the ball throughout the recreation on July 17, 2024, on the College Park Center in Arlington, Texas. (Michael Gonzales/NBAE through Getty Images)
– Stat line by no means seen in WNBA or NBA historical past: Clark would’ve cherished to get a win in opposition to the Washington Mystics on July 10, however she posted a stat line that the NBA hasn’t seen, not to mention the WNBA.
Clark completed the sport with 29 factors, 13 assists, 5 rebounds, 5 made three-pointers, 5 blocks and three steals. The WNBA posted that no participant has ever had a stat line of the type of their league in addition to the NBA.
–First triple-double by WNBA rookie: Clark went up in opposition to the WNBA’s finest New York Liberty on July 6 and did one thing no different rookie has of their profession.
She dropped 19 factors, 13 assists and 12 rebounds to file the first-ever triple-double by a WNBA rookie in historical past. Her capacity to attain and dish out assists has been showcased all through the season, however Clark actually received it accomplished on the boards as effectively to assist her crew.
– Historic All-Stars: Clark and Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese helped rewrite historical past, because it was the primary time since 2014 that two rookies have been named All-Stars in the identical season.
Clark obtained probably the most fan votes when all have been counted, being the one participant to crack 700,000 votes by 735. Her teammate, Aaliyah Boston, ranked second with 618,680.
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It’s been fairly the experience for Clark, who has managed to maintain herself locked in on the courtroom regardless of the large highlight that shines on her every night time. But on the finish of the day, this was to be anticipated after smashing NCAA information and bringing a complete new viewership to ladies’s basketball throughout her time at Iowa.
Clark nonetheless has the WNBA All-Star Game to go, the place there can be many eyes watching her matchup in opposition to the U.S. Olympic crew, a squad that many believed she ought to’ve been part of this summer season.
Caitlin Clark, #22 of the Indiana Fever, poses for a portrait at Gainbridge Fieldhouse throughout her introductory press convention on April 17, 2024, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Matt Kryger/NBAE through Getty Images)
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Clark can have time after that to breathe and replicate on what she’s achieved, however the second half will see her attempt to attain the WNBA Playoffs in her rookie season.
As it stands, the Fever are seventh within the league with an 11-15 file, with solely eight groups reaching the playoffs.
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