Since beginning her rookie season with the Indiana Fever, WNBA star Caitlin Clark has faced hostility on and off the court. Amid an onslaught of aggressive flagrant fouls from opposing players, particularly from their rival, the Chicago Sky, drawing backlash from fans and commentators. In light of the aggression against Clark, former NBA All-Star Joakim Noah suggested that the Fever sign a player who would serve as an “enforcer” and protect the star rookie.
“If I was the owner of the Indiana Fever, I would get a real enforcer in there to protect her,” Noah explained to Fox News Digital during an interview at “NBA Night” in the Emirates Suite at the U.S. Open. The former NBA star suggested the aggression toward Clark could be driven by the talent and attention she has brought to the league.
Noah continued, “Sometimes I feel like she is getting hit because she is a very talented person.” However, he maintained that the Fever should hire a more physical player to protect Clark in the interest of winning games. “But at the end of the day, we’re in the business of winning games, so if I’m the owner [of the Indiana Fever], I’m getting a real enforcer in there,” he added.
Speaking about the aggression toward Clark, he added that it has benefited WNBA viewership. “I think it’s great,” Noah said, talking about the fouls from Chicago. “I think it’s all entertainment.” Noah echoed a similar sentiment to ESPN broadcaster Holly Rowe, who said, “I think it’s good for the game. I kind of love it because it is supposed to be salty, that’s why it’s competitive, that’s why it’s sports.”
Aside from the aggressive fouls waged against her on the court, Clark has been criticized by commentators, who have called out Clark for her sexuality and race. For example, former ESPN personality Jemele Hill suggested that it was “problematic” that Clark was straight and white.
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Hill said, “We would all be very naive if we didn’t say race and her sexuality played a role in her popularity.” She continued, “While so many people are happy for Caitlin’s success — including the players; this has had such an enormous impact on the game — there is a part of it that is a little problematic because of what it says about the worth and the marketability of the players who are already there.”
She added, “It’s not jealousy. It’s just the fact that in our society, Black women are often erased from the picture. While Caitlin Clark’s success should be widely celebrated, there are various points where we have seen dynamic phenoms and how they have been able to popularize the game. It’s just that, for whatever reason, could be race, could be gender, could be a myriad of factors, that same marketing muscle that seems very intentional about making sure that Caitlyn Clark is a superstar was missing for them.”
Note: The featured image is a screenshot from the embedded video.