Caitlin Clark, the highly touted rookie from the Indiana Fever, has had a turbulent introduction to the WNBA. On June 1, the Fever played the Chicago Sky, where Clark received a shoulder check from an opposing team member, Chennedy Carter. The shoulder check and subsequent foul, and then upgrade to a flagrant 1 violation, sent sports media and internet users into a frenzy over the treatment of Clark by opposing players and her teammates.
At a press conference after the game, Carter said, “I ain’t answering no questions about Caitlin Clark,” adding more fire to the drama. Her teammate, Angel Reese, declined to attend the press conference and was fined $1,000 by the WNBA for it.
In a post-practice interview on June 3 with both Reese and Carter, Reese said, “It all started with the national championship game, and I’ve been dealing with this for two years now…People are talking about women’s basketball that you never would think would talk about women’s basketball.”
The seeds for this rivalry were planted in the 2023 NCAA Championship when Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes faced off against Angel Reese’s LSU Tigers. Reese taunted Clark, the clip going viral online and drawing criticism for unsportsmanlike conduct towards the NCAA star. However, just a week prior, Clark had drawn little backlash when taunting, highlighting the double standards existing within the newfound WNBA fan base.
As Clark and Reese transitioned into the WNBA in May 2024, the narrative continued down a dramatic path. Internet users and sports writers claim Clark is being “bullied” by both her teammates and opposing teams on the court, citing “jealousy” from her fellow players. Clark is just a rookie, but the hype from the NCAA Tournament has turned her into a superstar for the WNBA.
Caitlin Clark was the No.1 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, drawing in a viewership 4 times higher than 2023. Her merch has been flying off the shelves, and she received a $28 million brand deal from Nike in April. Any rookie with this much hype and energy behind them will definitely have a target on their back from their veteran counterparts.
The consistent discourse surrounding Clark’s treatment by other players opens the door for a new narrative: a racialized one. Due to the treatment Clark has been receiving from other players, many of them Black, largely white media voices determine Reese and Carter as bullies, determined to knock Clark off her pedestal. Ultimately, the reactions mirror the racist “angry Black woman” trope that has long demeaned the validity of reactions from Black women.
The prospect of black women being jealous of white women has long historical, and racist, lines. To assume that is the cause of the treatment, and not just simply competition or slight rookie hazing, ultimately stems from a racist lens.
Rookies in every professional sport, especially those with such a cult-like following, are expected to have a target on their back. Basketball is a competition, and not just for points either, but for media attention, brand deals, and social media sponsorships. Especially in the WNBA, where a player makes an average of less than $177,000, the spotlight could alter the career path of many.
Additionally, the discourse surrounding Clark’s treatment by other players highlights the door for an old narrative: a racialized one. Due to the treatment Clark has been receiving from other players, many of them Black, largely white media voices determine Reese and Carter as bullies. Some argue that Clark is being targeted solely because of her race.
Ultimately, the reactions mirror the racist “angry Black woman” trope that has long demeaned the validity of reactions from Black women. The prospect of black women being jealous of white women has long historical, and racist, lines. To assume that is the cause of the treatment, as many fans are doing, and not just simply competition or slight rookie hazing, ultimately stems from a racist lens.
But, basketball is a contact sport, and ultimately a competition. The shoulder check toward Clark should be handled just as any other player, through WNBA regulations – fouls, ejections, and fines. Clark’s new fan base, most of whom haven’t watched the WNBA in the past, might just be jumping the gun on her lack of protection. The budding rivalry between Clark and Reese will surely bring attention as the season continues, and as the story of Clark’s rookie season unfolds, it will be important to examine the narratives and perspectives portrayed, both on and off the court. But one thing is for sure: sports fans love a good rivalry.
Written by Mia Boykin.
