Indiana Fever rookie guard Caitlin Clark has had a remarkable start to her WNBA career, but it hasn’t come without its challenges—especially when facing the Chicago Sky. There have been multiple accusations that the Sky have specifically targeted Clark during games, and recent statistics seem to support these claims.
In Friday’s 100-81 victory over the Sky, Clark once again found herself at the center of controversy. Chicago was assessed two Flagrant 1 fouls during the game, both involving Clark as the victim. These incidents only fueled the ongoing narrative that the Sky have a particular disdain for the star rookie.
Fans took to social media immediately after the game, expressing their outrage and accusing the Sky of deliberate targeting. The collisions involving Chicago’s Michaela Onyenwere and Diamond DeShields with Clark appeared suspiciously intentional to many, further amplifying the accusations.
Adding fuel to the fire, a startling statistic has emerged: 17% of all flagrant fouls in the WNBA this season have been committed against Clark. Even more telling is that the Chicago Sky are responsible for a staggering 80% of those flagrants. This data suggests a pattern of behavior that extends beyond just one or two games.
Interesting stat:
17% of the WNBA’s flagrant fouls this season have been committed against Caitlin Clark
The Chicago Sky were responsible for 80% of the flagrants committed against Clark pic.twitter.com/7m5gOvVIa7
— Clark Report (@CClarkReport) September 1, 2024
The regular-season series between the Fever and the Sky is now over, with Indiana winning three out of the four matchups. However, the story may not be over yet, as there is a possibility that these two teams could meet again in the playoffs.
If the Sky secure the No. 8 seed, they’ll face the No. 1 seed in the first round of the postseason. Meanwhile, if the Fever manage to move up to the No. 5 seed, they’ll be up against the No. 4 seed. Should both teams advance, they would face each other in the semifinals. Another possible scenario is if the Fever finish as the No. 6 seed and the Sky as the No. 8 seed, the only way they would meet is in the WNBA Finals.
As the playoffs loom, all eyes will be on a potential Fever-Sky matchup, with fans and analysts alike watching to see if the alleged targeting of Caitlin Clark continues—or escalates.
