Amidst Fans Cry Over Caitlin Clark Injury, Sabrina Ionescu Demands WNBA Referees For ‘Superstar Freedom’

When Caitlin Clark came into the WNBA, it was expected that she would struggle a bit to come to terms with the increased physicality. Defense is tougher than college, and requires one to understand how to keep themselves balanced at all times.

In her rookie season, she understood pretty soon how keeping one’s balance was a necessity. Her welcome to the league moment was when she bounced off Breanna Stewart on a screen and fell on the floor.

After facing it a few more times courtesy of other bigger and stronger women, Clark decided to increase her own physicality during the offseason. She focused on working on her strength, and one particular picture confirmed how much muscle she had put on.

The idea was to be able to handle the constant bumps that are a part of the WNBA. This season, she has already been a part of some situations, the latest of which was against Atlanta Dream’s Rhyne Howard. Surprisingly, officials do not call fouls on such plays, and that is what Sabrina Ionescu hopes would change.

When you watch nba or men’s college, your star players get any call. You can touch them with a little fingernail, they’re going to the free throw line. In the W, they don’t care. There are no handcheck calls. In the W, no call. Freedom of movement is different.

sabrina ionescu on officiating in the wnba:

“when you watch nba or men’s college, star players get any call. you can touch them with a fingernail, they’re going to the free throw line. in the W, they don’t care—there are no handcheck calls—freedom of movement is different…” pic.twitter.com/qGEXRDrC6V

— cc akgae (@clrkszn) May 26, 2025

The New York Liberty guard clarified that officials in the WNBA allow anything and everything. Only until someone makes it too obvious do they call a foul. That explains why Caitlin Clark has often taken the time out to talk to officials.

Another Caitlin Clark injury could be a cause for concern for the WNBA

Handchecking and excessive physicality were once a part of basketball across all spectrums. But the NBA and college sports have taken the difficulty out of their games to allow for a free-flowing approach to develop. That leads to more points, which excites fans as well as players.

The WNBA do not follow that practice and continues to play a defense-first approach. There is nothing wrong with it, except, fans are more accustomed to the other subtler form, and hence are annoyed at the fact that the officiating in the women’s professional game is both restrictive, as well as dangerous.

After the last game, Caitlin Clark suffered an injury that could see her missing games for the first time in her career. Fans believe the lack of protection could have had an effect. The Indiana Fever did not clarify if any of those physical battles led to her injury.

Is this what the wnba is allowing to happen to Caitlin Clark ? What kind of defense is this ? Where are all the foul calls??? This is not football. Like and share please 🔥🔥🔥🚨🚨#WNBA pic.twitter.com/b50oFQB5QI

— Michael (@mikeaalen112735) May 26, 2025

But fans believe that since she is exerting a lot more stress on her body, it is possible that it could have had some kind of an effect. Even though that suggestion should be taken with a pinch of salt, bloody noses and bruised faces have become a common part of the WNBA.

The last time Caitlin Clark suffered an injury to her eye, the basketball world was in uproar. The league could ask their officials to start calling those fouls, else fans could use that as fuel to undo whatever the Fever star has done for the sport so far.

Sabrina Ionescu details how physicality is different in the WNBA

Sabrina Ionescu has developed into a strong and dynamic guard after struggling in her WNBA rookie season. Most rookies struggle to make that transition, and part of it is due to do with the difference in physicality.

Caitlin Clark might have been an anomaly, but even she understands the need to be stronger. Ionescu explained to Sue Bird that college players coming into the WNBA have been lifting and building strength for 3 or 4 years.

It is not enough to go up against WNBA players lifting for 10 years or more. The strength difference is staggering, and takes a lot of time and patience to build. Clark and the WNBA 3-point queen might be stronger now, but it still takes a lot for rookies to have success early in this league.

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