Caitlin Clark Returns Strong After Brutal Body Check, Indiana Fever Teammates Struggle.

Caitlin Clark faces toughest WNBA night yet, managing just one basket and three points after Chennedy Carter’s rough bodycheck.

During Indiana Fever’s game against the Chicago Sky on Saturday, Carter’s forceful shove knocked Clark down, sparking controversy as TV replays caught Carter’s heated words.

Despite the setback, Clark’s resilience shines through as Indiana secures their first home win with a narrow 71-70 victory. However, Sunday’s game against the New York Liberty paints a different picture.

Clark, visibly upbeat during warm-ups, struggles to find her rhythm, scoring a season-low three points on 1-of-10 shooting. The Liberty dominates with a commanding 104-68 win in the Commissioner’s Cup opener.

This defeat marks Indiana’s heaviest of the season and Clark’s lowest scoring performance across both WNBA and college basketball.

Clark, selected as the top pick in the 2024 draft, exited the game in the fourth quarter, visibly uncomfortable and holding her ear.

New York reached the 100-point mark for the second time this year, both instances against the Fever. This defeat marks the third time the Liberty has triumphed over Indiana this season, totaling an 83-point advantage.

Betnijah Laney-Hamilton notched 20 points in just 25 minutes, complemented by Jonquel Jones’ 18 points and 13 rebounds, securing her second consecutive double-double.

Sabrina Ionescu chipped in with 16 points, six assists, and six rebounds as New York achieved a season-high shooting percentage of 57.6% and racked up 44 points in the paint.

Criticism was directed at Clark’s Fever teammates before the game for what some saw as insufficient protection for the WNBA’s standout player.

Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green commented on an ESPNW Instagram post, urging Indiana to swiftly bolster their team with an enforcer.

Former NBA forward Matt Barnes echoed Green’s sentiments, addressing the Indiana Fever’s responsibility to protect Clark.

“In the course of the season, she’s been taking hits,” Barnes stated in an Instagram post cited by the New York Post. “Solid screens, elbows, knocked down,” Barnes continued. “It’s part of the game; she’s not the first, and won’t be the last. But my question is, where are her teammates? Where’s the support from the rest of the Indiana Fever?”

Barnes, who played alongside notable figures like Kobe Bryant, Blake Griffin, and Chris Paul, was known for his tough play and emphasizes the importance of Clark’s teammates stepping up to defend her.

I’ve observed a few instances where some girls smirked when she took a hit, showing half-hearted efforts to help her up. Your job is to safeguard the asset, defend the star. Even though it’s a team effort, protecting your star is paramount. I was someone who always had the stars’ backs.

“If you mess with Kobe, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and others, there will be consequences.”

While Carter declined to address questions regarding Clark after the Sky’s defeat on Saturday, she expressed herself abundantly on social media afterward.

In a Threads post about Clark, Carter questioned, “…besides three-point shooting, what else does [Clark] bring to the table, man?”

She also hinted at her rivalry with Clark on her Instagram story, stating, “I grew up with all brothers. All we did was fight and argue. I thrive on the hate more than the love, don’t you all understand? I’d prefer you hate me rather than love me, and I mean that sincerely.”