Caitlin Clark doesn’t just play basketball; she commands attention. Whether it’s with her game or her mouth, the Indiana Fever star has been making waves—and not always smooth ones. UConn’s legendary head coach Geno Auriemma, never one to mince words, recently weighed in on why Clark seems to have a permanent target on her back in the WNBA. Spoiler alert: it’s not just her jaw-dropping three-pointers.
“She talks a lot of s***,” Auriemma said, as if revealing the secret recipe for Coca-Cola. “That’s what makes her good. She’s not out there playing like some angel. Believe me, she’s got a lot to say.” Translation? Clark isn’t exactly sending “live, laugh, love” vibes when she’s on the court.
But wait—didn’t Geno himself just months ago claim Clark was being unfairly “targeted”? He’d sung a different tune on The Dan Patrick Show, suggesting her looks, reputation, and delusional fan base (ouch) were to blame for the extra elbows and sneers she was getting. According to Auriemma, some WNBA players felt disrespected by the hype around Clark, who many believed would waltz into the league and dominate like it was her personal driveway shootaround.
“Look, if you’re a WNBA player and you hear that, you’re gonna want to send a message,” Geno said. “She had a huge target on her back, not just because of her game but because of what people were saying about her. You’re not going to let some rookie come in and clown you.”
So, which is it, Geno? Is Clark a trash-talking tornado reaping what she sows, or the victim of a collective WNBA vendetta fueled by fan-fueled arrogance? Probably both.
Rookie Season Royalty
Regardless of why she’s being “beaten up,” Clark’s rookie year stats are enough to make any critic sit down and eat their words. She wasn’t just good; she was Rookie of the Year, racking up 66 out of 67 votes—because, apparently, one person missed the memo.
Oh, and don’t forget her spot on the All-WNBA First Team, a distinction usually reserved for veterans like A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart. Clark also smashed the rookie record book, setting a single-season high with 337 assists and dropping a ridiculous 769 points. The woman was handing out assists like Oprah hands out cars.
And those triple-doubles? Clark didn’t just record the first by a rookie; she did it twice. Leading the league in assists per game (8.4) while averaging nearly 20 points and close to six rebounds, she made sure everyone knew she wasn’t just hype.
Caitlin Clark’s Take?
For her part, Clark seems unbothered. She thrives on the chaos, talking smack and backing it up like it’s all in a day’s work. And her connection with fans? Unparalleled. Love her or hate her, people can’t stop watching her—and maybe that’s the secret to her magic.
So yes, Caitlin Clark might be a trash-talking, record-breaking, target-wearing phenomenon, but if the WNBA players are “beating her up,” it’s clear she’s punching right back. Maybe Geno’s right: she’s not an angel, but who needs wings when you’re flying past defenders?
Clark’s journey from being “targeted” to torching the league has only just begun. Buckle up, because this saga is far from over.
