As successful as Caitlin Clark has been since arriving in the WNBA last season, the Indiana Fever guard has faced criticism for her focus and effort on defense.
Friday night was no exception as one Fever fan seated in the front row in Indianapolis appeared to take Clark to task for failing to get back on defense.
When Clark came off a high screen to launch a doomed 3-point attempt, the former Iowa star was seen swinging her fist in frustration as an Atlanta fast break erupted in the opposite direction.
It was then that a Fever fan pictured on the bottom of the screen could be seen pointing and yelling at Clark in an apparent attempt to refocus the Indiana star.
Fans online appeared to enjoy the exchange after Indiana’s 99-82 win.
‘This sequence is too much,’ one wrote. ‘The fan yelling at her to get back on defense is sending me [laughing emoji].’
Some saw the fan and some heard the fan, but regardless, the message to Clark was clear
Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark (22) goes to the basket against Atlanta Dream’s Maya Caldwell
‘That fan yelling get back [on] defense was my dad sitting in his living room in Cedar Rapids,’ another added.
Clark was 5 of 17 from the field, including 1 of 7 from 3-point range, for 12 points and added nine assists for Indiana (10-10). Sophie Cunningham had 16 points and 10 rebounds
Indiana trailed 63-60 with 3:38 left in the third quarter before holding Atlanta without a field goal for the rest of the frame. The Fever scored the final four points of the third and opened the fourth on a 11-2 run to take an 80-67 lead. Indiana led by double figures the rest of the way.
Jordin Canada set career highs with 30 points and six 3-pointers for Atlanta (12-8). Rhyne Howard added 14 points and four 3-pointers, and Brittney Griner had 10 points and eight rebounds. Brionna Jones fouled out with 6:17 remaining in the fourth.
Canada made six 3-pointers and tied her career high with 26 points in the first half to help Atlanta take a 45-40 halftime lead. The Dream closed the first half on a 6-0 run after Indiana turned it over on its final three possessions.
The Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark (22) shoots over Atlanta Dream’s Rhyne Howard
Canada entered the game 6 of 29 from 3-point range this season and made 6 of 9 in the first half against the Dream.
The Fever started the season with great fanfare after what looked like a successful offseason of building a potential championship team around Clark. But the first 19 games have not gone to plan as Clark has worked through a pair of injuries.
Head coach Stephanie White is tired of waiting for answers, saying after Wednesday’s game that her team’s energy and competitive fire were not at needed levels. She didn’t hold back after Thursday’s practice, either.
“We’ve got to bounce back,” White said. “We’ve got to be better. Our attention to detail has to be better. We’ve got to stop waiting for someone else to do it.”
The Fever are now seventh in the East at 10-10. Atlanta is fifth at 12-8.
