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Caitlin Clark refused to speak to reporters after her Indiana Fever team lost to the Golden State Valkyries 90-88 on Thursday night, in what was also a tough individual evening for the biggest star of the WNBA.
Clark, 24, is usually generous with her time for reporters but did not make herself available after her worst performance of the season so far. She scored 16 points, going 3-for-12 from the floor, including 2-of-6 from 3 and eight of eight from the free-throw line.
She also had five turnovers – the highest on the team. It leaves her stuttering Fever team on 4-3 so far this season, sixth in the WNBA standings.
Clark, who did speak to media beforehand, could now be punished by the league – NBA star Victor Wembanyama got a warning after failing to speak to media after his San Antonio Spurs side lost Game 5 of their playoff series against Oklahoma City Thunder earlier this week.
But in the WNBA, with Caitlin Clark, her actions generally tend to land under greater scrutiny and the timing of her media snub is particularly striking given sports commentator Cari Champion launched an extraordinary attack on her in a recent episode of her podcast.
Champion, speaking Wednesday – before Clark’s latest game – slammed her attitude and demeanour in the latest instalment of her ‘Flagrant and Funny’ show.
Caitlin Clark had a tough night as the Indiana Fever lost against Golden State Valkyries
Clark’s media snub comes after a withering attack from sports reprorter Cari Champion
Her words veering more on the ‘flagrant’ side as she discussed the player who propelled women’s basketball to new levels of fame.
‘The more we get to catch these glimpses of Caitlin Clark, I’m like, “I don’t like you. I don’t like the way you behave on the court”‘ Champion said.
‘And the league is positioning you to be its superstar because you are, and with leadership comes certain responsibility. And if you don’t want that responsibility, I understand that.
‘But the way that you behave, this entitlement, the way you are talking to your coaches, you enjoy that. So if that’s what you enjoy, if you want to be the villain, if you want to be the tough person … then let it be.
‘Because we’re coming at you the same way we could come at anyone else. And her fans need to recognize that. Like, she chooses that behavior.’
Champion also took issue with Clark’s late withdrawal from a Fever game last week with a back issue, after she was left off the final injury report before the game against Portland Fire. The Fever were given a warning by the WNBA, something which has also incensed Champion.
‘That type of blatant favoritism annoys the hell out of me,’ Champion said, while accepting the smoke and mirrors over her injury status might have been a team decision and not Clark’s.
‘I don’t know if this is her fault, because I think it might be unfair for me to say that this is her fault. But at the same time, it’s like, why is she getting this special treatment?
Clark scored just 16 points against the Valkyries and had a team-high five turnovers
‘It just is, yet again, another example of the league and its fans… being so precious with her.’
Clark has brought many extra eyes to the WNBA since she was drafted in 2024 but her popularity has also seen her targeted by other players since entering the league.
She has had notorious clashes with Angel Reese, a rival since college, when she was at Chicago Sky alongside Chennedy Carter.
Reese now plays for Atlanta Dream and Carter for defending WNBA champions Las Vegas Aces.
Clark’s back issue raised concern last week after she missed the majority of her second season in the WNBA due to a groin issue.
Clark and her team have a chance to return to winning ways on Saturday night, against Portland Fire once again.
