WATCH: Caitlin Clark Hit With Brutal Flagrant Foul During Win on the Road, Opposing Crowd Gives Standing Ovation

WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark was recently the victim of an aggressive foul during a recent away game where the Indiana Fever competed against the Chicago Sky.  During the fourth quarter, Chicago Sky player Diamond DeShields blindsided Clark with aggressive contact, sending the standout rookie to the floor.  The foul was eventually upgraded to a flagrant 1.

DeShields consistently fouled Clark throughout the game, sending her to the free-throw line, which assisted in her career-high finish of 31 points.  Reportedly, the aggressive foul occurred after an incident between Clark and her opponent, Kamilla Cardoso.  “After Clark air-balled her 3-pointer, it looked like Kamilla Cardoso said something (she was the one to contest the shot).” Matthew Byrne of ClutchPoints wrote on X. “Clark then pointed up toward the scoreboard. Now, DeShields fouled Clark at midcourt. She tumbled to the floor.”

Ever since joining the WNBA, Caitlin Clark has been the subject of intense criticism, where she has been attacked for her race and sexuality.  The American Tribune reported on comments from former ESPN personality Jemele Hill, who suggested that Clark being White and straight was somehow “problematic” for the WNBA.

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 continued, “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.”

However, many have come out and defended Clark amid the litany of hard fouls against her from other players who are seemingly jealous of the attention she has received.  Comedian Bill Maher recently slammed Clark’s teammates for not standing up her after she was the subject of a controversial foul from Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter earlier this summer.