Caitlin Clarke He was questioned twice in the span of a few hours on Thursday about being the face of the so-called “culture wars” raging around him.
Indiana Fever The rookie has clearly been the WNBA’s most talked-about player for quite some time. While scrutiny from the media and other players may make it seem like she’s committed a crime, Clark has kept her nose out of the scathing comments of television pundits and social media.
Even before the regular season began, there were comments that her race was the reason she was popular. Clarke then suffered a hard foul from Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter, prompting questions about why the foul led to a debate show win.
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Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark signs autographs for fans before the start of a WNBA basketball game against the New York Liberty on Saturday, May 18, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray, File)
Then, Clarke being left off the Olympic roster sparked another discussion, which led to scrutiny of Connecticut Sun guard Dijonai Carrington. Mocking Clark For allegedly exaggerating a wrong decision.
Clarke faced questions on two separate occasions before she was inserted into the starting lineup at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where she was set to play against the Atlanta Dream.
“It seems like whatever you do or whatever is done to you becomes an issue on a national level. And a lot of times it becomes divisive. I wonder what you think about people using your name in any culture wars or any wars. I wonder how you feel about that,” Clark told Jim Trotter of The Athletic.
“It’s not something I can control, so I don’t spend a lot of time and thought thinking about things like that,” Clark said. “And, honestly, I don’t think about things like that too much. Like I said, basketball is my job. Everything outside, I can’t control that, so I’m not going to spend time thinking about it. People can talk about whatever they want to talk about. Start a conversation about whatever it is. I think for me, I’m just here to play basketball. I’m here to have fun. Trying to help my team win. We’ve won three games and we feel like we’re in a position to win more than that. My focus is on helping us do that. I don’t pay too much attention to all that.”
Trotter then asked, “How much do you think that affected your ability to develop relationships within the league?”
“You know, I think everybody in the league understands that, one, we’re excited that we’re getting so much attention, and I think we appreciate it. I think the league has been really great for a long time. But my focus is on my teammates. They’ve been amazing. I don’t think it’s affected the relationships I’ve built on my team. I’m obviously not talking to other guys from other teams on a daily basis. I have to focus on a lot of things here and getting my teammates to trust me and all that is my main focus. It’s the same with our coaching staff, it’s the same with this organization.”
Caitlin Clark, #22 of the Indiana Fever, dribbles the ball during a game against the Atlanta Dream at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 13, 2024 in Indianapolis. (Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)
WNBA commish rides wave of popularity with rise of Caitlin Clark
Trotter took another chance.
Trotter asked, “I understand you’re focused, but I just want to know, are you bothered by the fact that people would try to weaponize your name in their fight?”
“No,” Clark said in the middle of Trotter’s question. “I don’t think so. That’s not my focus. My focus is right here and on basketball. That’s where it should be. That’s where it’s been, and I’m just trying to get better every day.”
Carrington reacted strongly to Clark’s reply, and responded but did not name Clark.
“Doug. How can someone not be upset about their name being used to justify racism, bigotry, misogyny, xenophobia, homophobia and the intersections of all of these is insane,” Carrington wrote on Axe. “We all see the bullshit. We all have a platform. We all have a voice and they all carry weight. Silence is a luxury.”
Following Carrington’s comments, James Boyd of The Athletic took another opportunity to ask Clark a question.
Caitlin Clark, #22 ranked, of the Indiana Fever, shakes hands with Allisha Gray, #15 ranked, of the Atlanta Dream, before the game on June 13, 2024 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. (Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)
“Kaitlyn, I know you mentioned it, you want to focus directly on basketball, definitely respect that. But asking you directly, what is your reaction to that directory when people use your name to spread racism, misogyny, etc?”
“I think it’s disappointing,” Clarke responded once again. “Everyone in our world deserves equal respect. The women in our league deserve equal respect. People should not use my name to push those agendas. It’s disappointing. It’s not acceptable.
“This league is the league that I grew up admiring and wanting to be a part of. Some of the women in this league were my biggest idols and role models and they helped me get to this moment where I get to play every night. Treating every single woman in this league with the same respect is a basic human act that everyone should do. Just be a kind person and treat them the way you would want to be treated. I think it’s that simple.”
Clarke didn’t exactly go on to have the best game of her life, either.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, #22, and Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell, #0, chat during the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup game between the Indiana Fever and Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena on June 10, 2024 in Uncasville, Connecticut. (Erika Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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He finished with seven points, six assists and seven turnovers. The fever persisted To defeat Dream.
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