Indiana Fever rookie guard Caitlin Clark lit up the WNBA in 2024 with an electrifying performance that saw her break multiple records and help the Fever secure a sixth-place playoff berth. Clark’s arrival in the league has been nothing short of extraordinary, earning her a well-deserved spot in the limelight. However, like many newcomers to the league, Clark’s journey has not been without challenges—particularly when it comes to the physicality of the game.
Clark was no stranger to the physical demands of professional basketball, but some of the hits she took during the season were seen by many as excessive. Throughout the year, she endured fierce defensive play from opposing teams, and while some of it was just part of the game, other moments sparked debates about whether Clark was being unfairly targeted. Among the voices weighing in on the issue was WNBA legend and former Seattle Storm star, Sue Bird.
On a recent episode of the “A Touch More” podcast, Bird, who played in the WNBA for two decades, shared her thoughts on the notion that Clark was being targeted by opponents. Bird addressed the idea of players deliberately trying to take Clark out of the game, a narrative that was quickly adopted by some fans and analysts as the season progressed.
Bird’s response was both eye-opening and candid: “So the season starts, I watch the games. Not at any point did I think anybody was playing dirty against Caitlin. Not at any point did I think Caitlin was targeted. I’m going to stop on that word because these petty, jealousy, narratives that got formed, then when the season started and people saw people blocking Caitlin’s shot or picking her up full court, it then became, ‘Oh, they’re targeting her. Oh, they’re trying to hurt her.’ I cannot stress enough how insulting that is. That is potentially the biggest insult you can throw at an athlete. Especially an entire league of athletes.”
Bird’s perspective is valuable not just because of her legendary status in the league but also due to her wealth of experience. After playing 20 seasons at the highest level, she knows better than most the difference between aggressive competition and intentional targeting. According to Bird, the physical play against Clark was just that—physical play—and not part of some larger conspiracy to eliminate her from games.
However, that does not mean Clark’s rookie season was devoid of questionable moments. While Bird may not have seen an overarching plan to target Clark, some individual incidents did raise eyebrows, particularly when they occurred off the basketball court or when players crossed the line in their frustration. A key example of this came during the Fever’s thrilling 71-70 win over the Chicago Sky on June 1. During a stoppage in play, Chicago’s Chennedy Carter delivered a shoulder-check to Clark that was widely seen as unnecessary and unsportsmanlike. The action, which took place while the ball was out of play, was not a basketball move, and many questioned its intent.
The incident drew attention not only for the physical nature of the foul but also for the response from the Fever’s former head coach, Teresa Weatherspoon. In the aftermath of the play, Weatherspoon spoke openly about the situation, acknowledging the inappropriate nature of Carter’s foul. “I had a conversation with Chennedy and we talked about how that kind of foul was not acceptable,” Weatherspoon said. “In the heat of the game, emotions can get the best of players, but there are better ways to channel that intensity.”
Weatherspoon’s comments highlight an important aspect of the debate surrounding physicality in the WNBA: the line between aggressive play and overstepping boundaries. Emotions run high in professional sports, and frustration can lead to actions that are not only unnecessary but potentially dangerous. Players like Caitlin Clark, who are often the focus of intense defensive schemes, must learn how to navigate these situations while also maintaining their composure.
As Bird noted, it’s crucial to understand the difference between competitive physical play and something more malicious. The physicality that Clark faced on the court, including full-court presses and tight defense, is common in the WNBA. It’s what you expect from elite players who are competing at the highest level. However, as the incident with Carter showed, there are moments when the intensity of the game spills over into actions that could compromise a player’s safety.
The fallout from this incident—and from others like it—will likely be a learning experience for both Clark and the wider WNBA community. Players across the league, including Clark herself, will undoubtedly take away valuable lessons on how to handle adversity and how to protect themselves on the court. At the same time, the league and its players will continue to evolve in their understanding of what constitutes fair play and what crosses the line into misconduct.
Moving forward, it’s clear that Caitlin Clark has proven herself to be a formidable force in the WNBA. Her breakout rookie season, marked by record-breaking performances and a leadership role in helping the Fever reach the playoffs, shows that she is here to stay. While the physicality of the game may continue to be a challenge, it is one that Clark, like other elite athletes, will learn to navigate as she continues to rise in the league. And with the support of experienced voices like Sue Bird, there is little doubt that Clark will emerge from these challenges even stronger and more determined to make her mark on the WNBA.
