Caitlin Clark finds herself at the center of a major controversy less than a month into her rookie season in the WNBA.
However, according to Dan Dakich, a former Indiana University player and coach, racism does not explain why opposing players attack her on the court.
Clark, who was selected by the Indiana Fever with the first overall pick in this year’s WNBA Draft, has had a brutal start in the big league, taking heavy physical punishment and losing nine of her first 12 games.
Earlier this month, Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter sparked outrage by aggressively shoving the Fever superstar to the ground without the ball, before appearing to laugh about it with teammate Angel Reese.
Caitlin Clark is at the center of a major controversy less than a month into her rookie season in the WNBA.
Some believe Clark is a victim of racism in the league, and Outkick founder Clay Travis recently claimed she is being targeted because she is “a straight white woman in a black lesbian league.”
Dakich, however, disagrees. “Of course, she’s being attacked,” the former Hoosier star said. sports.
“There’s a little bit of racism or sexism in there, you know, straight white girl, okay, but that’s not it for me.”
Instead, Dakich believes other WNBA players are taking out their frustrations on Clark out of jealousy.
The 61-year-old explained that his wife Leigh, who coached Syracuse softball for decades, recently told him that women often don’t like to see other women succeed in sports.
“He said you’re going to see incredible pettiness and jealousy,” he added. “We’re seeing a lot of that.”
Clark has been brutally attacked by opposition players, with Chennedy Carter sparking outrage by pushing her to the ground earlier this month (pictured).
Former Indiana University player and coach Dan Dakich (right) believes jealousy explains why the Fever rookie is being attacked.
Clark is the biggest star in women’s basketball today, and one of the sport’s most popular players, following her historic college career with Iowa.
The 22-year-old, who recently signed an endorsement deal with Nike worth an estimated $28 million, is bringing more attention than ever to women’s football, with her Fever debut breaking viewership records on ESPN.
Just like in college, she is also setting records as a WNBA player: becoming the fastest WNBA player to reach at least 200 points and 50 assists in league history over the weekend.