WNBA star Caitlin Clark went viral on Wednesday after her outburst during the Indiana Fever's game against the Golden State Valkyries.
Midway through the second quarter, Clark attacked the basket and scored. However, the Fever guard felt she was fouled by Valkyries center Kiah Stokes, who kneed her in the quad area and caused her to fall.
No foul was called on the play, and Clark was visibly frustrated as she limped to the other end of the floor.
After the referee whistled a foul against the Fever on the following play, Clark yelled at the referee and confronted the game official face-to-face.
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Caitlin Clark Receives Backlash Over Her Behavior
Interestingly, Clark was not assessed with a technical foul despite her show of frustration. The decision sparked backlash against the Fever guard since many thought that she deserved a tech.
After the game, Clark admitted that the no-call on her drive to the basket upset her, adding that it was "ridiculous" that the referee missed an obvious foul.
"That knee right in the quad, like, that hurts. The ref can't miss that. And then I had to play with a contusion in my leg the rest of the game. It's ridiculous. Can’t miss calls like that," Clark stated.
When asked what the referee told her about the no-call, Clark shared that the official said there was no whistle because she initiated the contact.
Dick Vitale Defends Caitlin Clark
Amid the backlash Clark is getting, legendary college basketball announcer Dick Vitale came to her defense and emphasized that the Fever All-Star has the right to complain.
Vitale argued that Clark has been taking constant hits without any calls.
"She has a right to complain as @CaitlinClark22 on many times takes a physical whipping w/o any calls made," Vitale stated.
It's worth noting that Vitale has been a huge supporter of Clark, and he has repeatedly expressed his disappointment with how the WNBA has treated the superstar playmaker.
In fact, after the recent incident in which Clark was hit in the throat by Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas, Vitale said that it's "really sad" that she has been treated negatively and targeted by her peers.
