Wealthy Graessle/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photos
NBA commissioner Adam Silver gave his ideas on the bodily play that Caitlin Clark has skilled at the beginning of her WNBA profession with the Indiana Fever.
“It is nothing new in basketball, that there are welcome to the league moments,” Silver advised reporters on Thursday. “Particularly for heralded rookies. However after all, I wish to see Caitlin handled pretty and appropriately within the league. It looks like she will handle herself, she’s a tricky participant.”
Shane Younger @YoungNBA
Adam Silver was requested about Caitlin Clark and the rising recognition of the WNBA pic.twitter.com/ys9BikRQLP
One of many early bumps within the street that Clark has handled was a foul from Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter throughout a Fever victory, which was later upgraded to a flagrant foul.
After Indiana’s win over Chicago, Fever head coach Christie Sides known as the officiating surrounding Clark “unacceptable” on social media.
Christie Sides @ChristieSides
That is unacceptable @wnba
When will the constant complaints be heard?!? One thing needs to be finished! https://t.co/QVf1vHA5l4
“This league is superior, it is a bodily league,” Sides later defined, per ESPN’s Alexa Philippou. “That was a non-basketball play that wanted to be known as in that second.”
As for Clark, she expressed her intent to stay level-headed in bodily conditions on the court docket.
“It’s what it’s,” she stated, by way of Philippou. “I really feel like I am simply on the level the place you settle for it and do not retaliate.”
“I am making an attempt to not let it hassle me,” she added.
Whereas Clark has struggled together with her long-range effectivity, the previous Iowa standout has nonetheless put collectively a number of spectacular performances all through her temporary WNBA profession. Via 11 appearances, she’s averaging 15.6 factors, 5.1 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per recreation. The previous No. 1 total choose was additionally named the WNBA Rookie of the Month in Might.
Silver defined that Clark’s promising on-court play “could also be misplaced on some people who find themselves new to basketball” because of the flagrant foul from Carter in addition to the following narrative.
With the controversy surrounding the foul seemingly within the rearview mirror, the 22-year-old will try to assist the Fever bounce again from a 2-9 begin to the 2024 season. Indiana’s subsequent probability to safe a win comes towards the Washington Mystics on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET.
