Caitlin Clark bullying in rookie season were ‘racist’ narratives, says WNBA champion

Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark was subjected to a lot of aggressive physical plays in her rookie WNBA season.

Caitlin Clark bullying in rookie season were ‘racist’ narratives, says WNBA champion

WNBA stars Natasha Cloud and Caitlin Clark

WNBA fans witnessed Caitlin Clark develop into one of the best players in the league. During that stellar rookie campaign, she had to develop her game elevate her Indiana Fever to a playoff spot for the first time in eight seasons.

But early on in that campaign, she was subjected to a lot of criticism. It was mostly to do with the attention she was receiving and along with her trash talk, rubbed veterans the wrong way. So much so that some intensified their physicality towards her.

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The one that started the discourse was when Chennedy Carter body slammed Clark. The Iowa alum’s fans were irate, and they torched WNBA social media sites asking for Carter to be punished. Then later on, another Chicago Sky player bumped Clark to the ground.

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Even though it was not intentional, fans raged about the treatment veterans were handing out to the rookie. But some felt the WNBA was a lot more physical than college women’s basketball and the NBA. However, that did not calm fans. Now Connecticut Sun star Natasha Cloud explains what really went on.

The game has always been physical. There was no targeting. That narrative that got spun in, ‘oh the vets hate the rookies’, it was all BS. What it is, is racism. Go down the list of best players, they get f**ked up every game.

Natasha Cloud said

The former champion added that every franchise player gets a certain excess amount of attention from opponents. In Caitlin Clark‘s case, she believes the Fever star received the same treatment. But in her opinion, no one specifically targeted the rookie.

Natasha Cloud feels new WNBA fans were not exactly fans

Before Natasha Cloud talked about the targeting part, she began to explain how the entire narrative was formed. The Connecticut Sun guard believes the new WNBA fanbase that came in this past season helped create the narrative.

The craziness that came with the new fandom was rooted in something other than fandom. I think that’s very evident across the board. It has not been about basketball.

Natasha Cloud said

Her words echo what other veterans have said about Indiana Fever fans in particular. They felt the difference in energy whenever they went to Indianapolis. Cloud’s words sum up what players felt, that some of those fans were not really fans of the game. They were there for ulterior motives.

That ulterior motive was visible when the Fever played the Sun. It was the second playoff game where some fans had racially motivated posters at the arena. Considering it was election campaign season, all that boiled over to sports.

Caitlin Clark will start practice with Indiana Fever teammates in April

NCAA March Madness starts in a few days. Which means all former alumni will be glued to their television screens to watch their alma maters at play. Then until April the 6th, WNBA players usually do not engage in offseason workouts as they take in college basketball playoffs.

This means, Caitlin Clark and her revamped Indiana Fever will likely schedule their first practices after the NCAA Championship game is over. The reigning rookie of the year will have six new teammates coming in. Which means, they have to get an initial feel on how they play.

Then as the days progress, the group will begin practicing game scenarios. In the eyes of many, this revamped Indiana Fever team is a championship contender. That also means expectations will be high from opening tip off. They will have to make the most of their practices to start their season with wins.