Caitlin Clark is experiencing her own version of ‘Jordan Rules’.
The ‘Bad Boy’ Detroit Pistons roughed up Michael Jordan with physicality and tough play during MJ’s early NBA years, and the new face of the WNBA is getting similar treatment.
The No. 1 overall pick in this year’s WNBA draft has bagged a slew of endorsement deals and even a signature shoe.
Many established WNBA veterans have seemingly taken exception to the 22-year-old’s newfound superstardom.
The Indiana Fever rookie was recently on the receiving end of a hard bodycheck by Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter and a rough box out from former college rival Angel Reese.
Both incidents left the Fever sharpshooter on the ground and sparked a major online discussion about the way Clark is being defended.
Patrick Mahomes’ wife Brittany, a former women’s soccer player, is on the side of Clark and shared a defiant message of support to the WNBA rookie.
“@caitlinclark22 keep doing your thing!!” she wrote on Instagram.
“You’re a baller and it’s incredible to see what you’re doing for the game and women’s sports!!”
Mahomes’ words of encouragement came after the WNBA upgraded Carter’s foul against Clark to a flagrant-1 violation after reviewing the play.
Carter issued a shoulder shot to Clark before an inbound pass during the third quarter of Indiana’s 71-70 win over the Sky on Saturday.
TV replays also appeared to show her yelling ‘you b****’ at Clark.
At the time, officials called it an away-from-the-ball foul. They didn’t review the play and it was deemed a common foul.
“I wasn’t expecting it,” Clark said after the game. “It is what it is. It’s a physical game. Go make the free throw and execute on offense, and I feel like that’s kind of what we did.”
The former Iowa Hawkeyes star finished with 11 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Reese had eight points and 13 rebounds while Carter had 19 points, six assists and four rebounds.
Following the game, Carter refused to answer questions relating to Clark.
Reese, who appeared to applaud Carter’s foul on Clark, did not take questions from reporters following the game.
“I ain’t answering no Caitlin Clark questions,” Carter told reporters. “I don’t know what she said. I didn’t say anything.”
Carter also fired back at Clark on social media, writing: “Beside three point shooting what does [Clark] bring to the table man.”
“I grew up with all brothers,” she went on. “All we did is fight and argue. I love the hate more than the love what don’t yall understand. I’d rather you hate me [than] love me and I mean that on my dead aunt.”
In the aftermath of the drama, the WNBA fined Reese $1,000 for failing to make herself available to media after Saturday’s game.
They also fined the Sky $5,000 for failing to ensure that all players comply with league media policies.
In a social post after the game, Fever coach Christie Sides said Carter’s foul on Clark was “unacceptable”, adding: “When will the consistent complaints be heard?!? Something has to be done!”
She also said that the Fever intend to raise Clark’s treatment with the WNBA.
“We’re just going to keep sending these possessions to the league, and these plays, and hopefully they’ll start, you know, taking a better look at some of the things that we see happening, or we think is happening,” Sides said.
“Just more happy that Caitlin handled it the way she did. You know, it’s tough to keep getting hammered the way she does and to not get rewarded with free throws or foul calls. She’s continued to fight through that. Appreciate that from her. Really, really proud of her for doing that.”
News Summary:
- Brittany Mahomes sends defiant four-word message of support to Caitlin Clark after hard foul drama involving Angel Reese engulfs WNBA
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