WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert has addressed allegations that Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark is being “targeted” by opponents, emphasizing that the league is not centered around any single player.
Clark, the NCAA legend and No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft, has made an immediate impact with the Fever, breaking numerous records from her collegiate career. Her early tenure with Indiana has been marked by notable performances and some contentious moments, with fans accusing rival players of roughing her up.
Clark’s statistics reflect her continued excellence, averaging 16.2 points, 6.6 assists, and 5.5 rebounds per game. Her transition to the WNBA has maintained her star status, with games against Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky drawing the highest viewership numbers the league has seen in over two decades.
Controversial fouls in her first two matchups against the Sky, involving Chicago’s Chennedy Carter and later Reese, have sparked debates about whether Clark is being deliberately targeted. However, Engelbert refuted these claims, stressing the competitive and physical nature of the WNBA.
On “The TODAY Show,” Engelbert explained, “The fans we’ve had for a long time know how we have the best, biggest, most physical, best players in the world. In college, there’s over 200 NCAA Division I women’s college programs. There are 12 WNBA teams, so you take the talent, and it’s centralized with the best, the biggest, most physical, and really, the best players in the world. So, I think there’s always an adjustment for all rookies.”
She continued, “Our rookie class this year is outstanding, including Caitlin, who was the rookie of the month for May. There is a spotlight, but no league is ever about one player. We’re marketing around all of our players, and I think Caitlin’s lifting everybody.”
Angel Reese, addressing the supposed rivalry with Clark, dismissed any tensions, emphasizing the competitive nature of their interactions. “It’s just competition,” Reese remarked, highlighting her focus on the game rather than external narratives.
Former WNBA star Sheryl Swoopes also weighed in, downplaying the controversy. On Gil’s Arena, she stated, “It’s the clip they wanna post because they’re gonna get all these likes and reposts… but that’s a basketball play. She hit her in the head, so of course, it should be upgraded to a flagrant 1. Refs looked at it, they upgraded it. [But] can we keep playing basketball? My thing is, every time Caitlin gets fouled, we can’t make it seem like she was assaulted. Fouling is a part of basketball.”
As the season progresses, Clark’s performance and the league’s handling of these physical encounters will continue to be closely watched. For now, Engelbert’s stance is clear: the WNBA’s competitive spirit remains its core, with all players, including rookies like Clark, adjusting to its high standards.