Hot Mics Catch WNBA Players Complaining About Caitlin Clark

Caitlin Clark remains a polarizing figure among her peers. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft is in her third year. Clark, a two-time WNBA All-Star, has been credited with saving women's basketball by some. Clearly, this isn't an idea that her fellow WNBA players are in love with. ...

by Andrew Holleran

May 25, 2026

Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever looks on.

Caitlin Clark remains a polarizing figure among her peers.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft is in her third year. Clark, a two-time WNBA All-Star, has been credited with "saving" women's basketball by some. Clearly, this isn't an idea that her fellow WNBA players are in love with.

Angel Reese has been heard complaining about the constant praise that Clark gets.

"People are talking about women's basketball, you never would think they'd be talking about women's basketball," Reese was heard saying in 2024.

"People are pulling up to games. We got celebrities coming to games and sold-out arenas just because of one single game. Just looking at that, I'll take that role. I'll take the bad guy role, and I'll continue to take that on and be that for my teammates. I know I'll go down in history. I'll look back in 20 years and be like, the reason why we're watching women's basketball is not just because of one person. It's because of me, too. I want y'all to realize that."

But she's not the only one who feels that Clark gets preferential treatment.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) gestures down the court Saturday, May 2, 2026, during the first half of a preseason game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

A hot mic caught a WNBA player, Golden State Valkyries veteran guard Tiffany Hayes, complaining about the calls that Clark gets.

Clark and Hayes exchanged in some trash talk during the game. Following the game, Hayes was heard complaining about Clark.

Hot mic catches complaint about Caitlin Clark

"Hayes not-so-subtly alluded to Clark before the postgame presser and what she sees is favorable officiating for who we assume is Clark from the refs," For The Win reported.

"The moment catches Hayes saying that the refs aren't calling fouls on presumably Clark, and if they did, she's never get to play in WNBA games. We're not sure exactly if she meant for the folks at home to hear that or not, but her comments on who we presume is Clark are pretty pointed nevertheless. She doesn't say Clark's name explicitly, but it's not hard to suss through who the 'she' is in this context."

It's understandable for WNBA players to complain about the treatment Clark receives from fans, the media and even the refs.

But it doesn't mean they're right.