In the high-stakes world of professional sports, there’s competitive, and then there’s Caitlin Clark. The Indiana Fever star doesn’t just win; she rubs it in with the finesse of a seasoned showman. During a recent practice-turned-battleground, Clark put on a home run derby that left her teammates both awestruck and slightly traumatized. But let’s be real, no one is truly safe when Clark’s in the mood to win—and remind you of it every waking second afterward.
It started innocently enough. Coach Christie Sides, perhaps naively, thought a friendly competition would lighten the mood. A little batting practice, some laughs, no harm, no foul, right? Wrong. Clark, who clearly missed the memo on “friendly,” swung for the fences—literally and figuratively. After clinching the win, she unleashed a barrage of taunts that would make even the most hardened trash talkers wince.
Her now-infamous “hold the L” gesture was just the opening act. She followed it up with a “bye bye” wave and a sarcastic “goodnight” as if tucking her teammates into bed after reading them a horror story starring herself. But the pièce de résistance? When the Indiana Fever shared the footage on social media, Clark couldn’t resist twisting the knife, commenting, “been waiting to see these highlights all day.” Ouch.
Her teammates, notably Aliyah Boston and Lexie Hull, might be contemplating a group therapy session after this one. Boston, in particular, seems to have drawn the short straw, becoming the primary target of Clark’s playful—yet relentless—mockery. The Fever’s social media blew up, with fans both cringing and cheering for Clark’s antics. One fan captured the sentiment perfectly: “I hate her (she is my favorite person on earth).”
Being on the receiving end of Clark’s competitive streak is tough. In games, she’s the WNBA’s assist queen, dishing out 8.2 assists per game with surgical precision. But with greatness comes a downside—she’s also leading the league in turnovers, averaging 5.6 per game. So, for every jaw-dropping pass, there’s a heart-stopping mishap. It’s all part of the Caitlin Clark experience.
Clark’s relentless drive has earned comparisons to Kobe Bryant’s Mamba Mentality, but with a twist of theatrical flair that’s all her own. Even her bestie and Iowa roommate, Kate Martin, seemed to dodge naming Clark as the best leader she’s played with—a subtle hint, perhaps, that living in Clark’s competitive shadow isn’t for the faint-hearted.
As for Boston and the rest of the Fever, they’re likely counting down the days until they can focus on catching lobs from Clark during actual games instead of metaphorical Ls in practice. But until then, they’ll have to endure the queen of trash talk in all her glory.
Ladies and gentlemen, Caitlin Clark has entered the building, and she’s not leaving until everyone knows who’s boss.