As conversations surrounding the WNBA’s treatment of rookie superstar Caitlin Clark continue to dominate the news cycle, things escalated today when the Indiana Fever guard was roughly fouled several hours before tipoff, as she arrived at the arena for the night’s game, sources have confirmed.
“I feel like they’re bullying her a little bit,” said Ray Washington, a parking lot attendant at Entertainment & Sports Arena, where tonight’s game versus the Washington Mystics is being held. “I feel like I get both sides of the argument here. On one hand, it’s like ‘Welcome to the big leagues,’ you know? On the other hand, I feel like she ought to be able to park her car and walk into the arena without the opposing center throwing a shoulder into her. She clearly wasn’t expecting that.”
Despite the rough nature of the foul, referees claimed they were powerless to enforce it.
“Not much I can do three hours before the game,” said WNBA referee Tracy Woods. “I’ll definitely keep an eye on things out there on the court, but if they’re targeting Clark before and after the game, she really just needs to keep her head on a swivel out there.”
“Welcome to the big leagues,” she added.
As of press time, Pax the Panda, the Washington Mystics mascot, was ejected from the arena for sucker-punching Clark.
This one gave me a chuckle!
The people that engage in this kind of behavior are despicable and in every instance they should be benched and fined by the league and their teams. It is sad that there are players in the game that believe that this is OK. It is NOT ok folks, but anyone, at any time!
Caitlin Clark’s team needs to let it be known that if you hurt her, we will hurt you. And then do it. Never mind the technicals and never mind the fines and the benches. If you don’t kick their butts they’re going to keep on keeping on until someone really gets hurt. Retaliation is the only language they understand. So start speaking it and speaking it loud and clear.
It’s time for the fans to show what they think by staying home. When the money stops coming in, the teams will find a way to weed out the bad actors. I suggest long suspensions or banning for certain attacks and they will get the message. I doubt “some” of the coaches object to dirty play, and they should be subject to big money penalties too. Those people who come to see fights, should go to the regular scheduled fight matches. Those who like good, clean, hard played basketball will soon get that game back.
If they know who it is they should go on the suspension diet–
1st- Suspended without pay for 5 games
2nd- Suspended without pay for 15 games and if it happens a
3rd time Suspended without pay for the rest of the season and post-season.
AND
If it happens by more than one player from a team, then all the players should have have a penalty to force the teams to monitor themselves and take a financial hit if the culture of the team is not basketball – the game !!!
I do not watch the WNBA– just like I do not watch the WSoccer team— they want their pay to match the men’s teams, but their revinue is only 1% of the entertainment value.
They do not feel they have to earn it———- WRONG ANSWER.
Hi Michael, Caitlin Clark has increased game attendance at her games. TV Viewership at her games. And seems to be a decent acting human being. Granted your point is founded in undeniable fact. CC’s marketing appeal is also proven through numbers at her games. Granted the WNBA is still a small draw in today’s market. It is interesting to see the various forms of the green monster exhibited by her peers in the WNBA. You cannot predict fan response, you can only measure post fact.
If this were hockey then the enforcers would be out in short order. Someone needs to step up and make it known that if you mess with her, you mess with me!
Someone should tell the commissioner that basketball was supposed to be a non contact sport until blacks started to play the game. I don’t watch the NBA, the WNBA, or college basketball anymore. It is a black dominated sport that has been ruined by the physical nature of the game. They can have it. I won’t watch.
When a team shows such poor sportsmanship, they should be severely penalized. If it happens again, by ANY team, the game should be called and the Indiana Fever or any victimized team should win by default.
Those conducting criminal acts against Clark need suspended indefinitely and fined thousands.
Please remember, this is a satire website!!