WNBA Fans Accuse Chicago Sky of Targeting To Hurt Caitlin Clark

WNBA fans are not happy with the Chicago Sky after they seemed to purposely target Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark during their showdown on Friday, August 31.

The Sky were called for two Flagrant 1 fouls on Clark during the game, with the Fever guard falling to the floor in both instances.

During the third quarter of the contest, Chicago forward Michaela Onyenwere collided with Clark and caused her to fall while she was taking a 3-pointer. While it didn’t look like Onyenwere had any ill intention towards Clark, she was still called for a Flagrant 1 for the dangerous move.

Onyenwere didn’t give Clark any landing space, and it would have been bad had she gotten injured during that play.

Several minutes later in the fourth quarter, it was Diamond DeShields who hit Clark with a hard foul. After the Fever All-Star got the ball off an Aliyah Boston steal, DeShields came rushing from behind and knocked her to the ground.

The foul came a few moments after Clark appeared to talk trash to the Sky. It’s also worth noting that DeShields was called for a foul on the rookie playmaker prior to that. With that said, many accused the 29-year-old vet of taking her frustration out on Clark.

Sure enough, fans took issue with the fact that two different Sky players hit Caitlin Clark with flagrant-level fouls. It sparked talks that Chicago did it on purpose to hurt the Fever’s best player, while many others called out the Windy City franchise for being dirty.

“Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky just tried to injure Caitlin Clark on three straight possessions in a blowout. Two of them were upgraded to Flagrant-1 fouls. It’s time for the WNBA to investigate this team and the Sky’s HC,” an X user wrote.

“Sky players are pathetic, cheap shots out of spite cause Clark is so popular and nobody gives a s**t about the Sky players, except Reese who is only popular because of Clark TBH. Player should be suspended indefinitely for such a flagrant cheap shot. Pathetic team and mentality,” a critic added.

Another angry Fever fan said, “Why do announcers justify flagrant violence toward Clark by saying ‘it’s a basketball play?’ Opposing players are using these so-called ‘basketball plays’ to commit egregious acts of violence against Clark under the cloak of it being a ‘basketball play!’ This has to stop!!!”

“Two flagrant fouls on Caitlin Clark. What does that say about the Chicago Sky??” a social media user chimed in.

A fifth commenter also pleaded the WNBA to take action, “WNBA leadership needs to crack down on this immediately. It shouldn’t be happening to Caitlin Clark or anyone else. Flagrant foul? Ejection and fine, along with suspension — no questions asked.”

“Whoever that player is who deliberately body checked Clark seems rather classless. Not a bball or a hustle play. It was flagrant. Jealousy is a sickness. Does anyone even know her name?” another critic shared, referring to DeShields’ hard foul.

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark against the Chicago Sky.

Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

It remains to be seen if the Fever will take action after the rather physical night that Clark had to endure. For what it’s worth, Clark appeared to be just fine following the contest.

Clark finished with 31 points, four rebounds and 12 assists in their 100-81 blowout of the Sky. The team improved to 16-16 on the season, climbing to sixth in the WNBA standings.