Fans online criticized Seattle Storm’s Skylar Diggins-Smith for attacking Caitlin Clark on Sunday.
Clark inspired the Indiana Fever to another WNBA victory by beating the Storm 92-75 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The No. 1 overall draft pick and rookie sensation has been the subject of plenty of rough treatment during his first season as a pro, especially from the Chicago Sky’s Chennedy Carter.
But Diggins-Smith, 34, an Olympic gold medalist and six-time WNBA All-Star, was caught unnecessarily colliding with Clark late in Sunday’s game.
Clark was cheering on the Fever fans after the buzzer when Diggins-Smith appeared to speed up his walk to intentionally run into his opponent.
Online fans slammed Skylar Diggins-Smith for attacking Caitlin Clark
Diggins-Smith (left) was caught unnecessarily colliding with Clark late in Sunday’s game.
Undeterred, Clark continued walking and celebrating with the victorious home fans.
However, Diggins-Smith has been criticised on social media, with fans accusing her of being jealous of Clark and bitter about his success.
One wrote: “Jealousy causes hatred and it is sad to witness it.”
Another commented: “He even dropped his shoulder… Clark has everyone in this league on edge.”
A third added: “Diggs might need some time in the gym. Clark went through that with no problem lol.”
“Imagine being jealous of someone who put your sport on the map,” wrote another.
Another user said: “Typical act of jealousy. That player is a mess. What bad behavior!”
This comes after Dave Portnoy called for a WNBA referee to be fired or suspended for giving Clark a technical foul and warning her for hitting a post on Sunday.
Despite another record-breaking performance from Clark, the postgame discussion centered on technology and his exchange with official Tyler Ricks.
“I got a technical foul basically for being mad at myself because I missed a 3-pointer,” Clark said.
‘And then I went and hit the backboard, and he told me that was disrespectful to the game of basketball.’
He went on to say that he should thank Ricks for inspiring his remarkable performance in the second half.
Portnoy, a diehard Clark fan who recently bet $100,000 that the Fever would win this year’s WNBA title, was less forgiving. As he wrote on X, Portnoy believes Ricks “should be suspended or fired.”
Clark scored 23 points and added nine assists to help the Fever beat the Seattle Storm 92-75
Clark had 23 points and nine assists to help the Fever beat the Seattle Storm 92-75.
With 232 assists so far this season, Clark broke the previous WNBA rookie record of 224 set by Ticha Penicheiro in 1998.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft has scored at least 20 points in five of his last six games. He’s averaging 23.7 points on 47 percent shooting from the field and 11.7 assists in that span.
Indiana (13-15), which has matched its win total from the 2023 campaign with 12 games remaining in the regular season, has won consecutive games following the month-long break for the Paris Olympics.
The Fever have won four of five overall and are 10-5 after winning just three of 11 games to open the season.
