Caitlin Clark’s rookie year in the WNBA was remarkable, but it has also come with an overwhelming wave of criticism, as is the case with any successful athlete. While her incredible performances – averaging 20 points, leading the league with 8.4 assists and 6 rebounds per game – have earned her accolades like Rookie of the Year and Time’s Athlete of the Year, Clark has also faced relentless hatred and stalking from fans. Much of this stems from her meteoric rise as one of the most promising figures in the league and the sport. Fans, veterans, and even fellow players have added to the scrutiny, questioning her every move while she focuses solely on basketball, or so she conveys.
How Caitlin Clark Handles the Pressure
The viership, marketing and sales numbers she’s brought to the WNBA have been historic, and her influence will surely bring better players out of college to further strengthen the league. But with that comes pressure. On the Courtside Club podcast, host Rachel DeMita highlighted the immense pressure Clark faces: “I’m sure she gets weird messages on a daily basis, she gets hateful messages, she gets trolled… I feel like she’s carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders while just trying to play basketball as a 22-year-old.” DeMita praised Clark’s composure, noting that she consistently ignores negativity and stays focused on her game – a strategy that is crucial to navigating the intense attention she is under, again, she is only 22 so she will grow with pressure throughout her basketball career as a pro.
In a league where attention can quickly turn to hostility, Clark has become a polarizing figure. But her ability to block out the noise and stay focused speaks volumes. As Rachel DeMita aptly put it, “The best way to deal with trolls, to deal with someone who is threatening you…is not to respond.” Clark’s resilience and determination is what truly sets her apart and proves that she belongs among the league’s elite. Angel Reese also has these types of issues; Reese is much more active on social media, so she deals with these issues much more often. In fact, a few days ago she shut down her Instagram for a few days, I guess to get away from these attacks that she receives every day.
Clark’s Second Season Promises More
This upcoming season, which will run until May, Clark and the Indiana Fever will have a new head coach in Stephanie White. White was the head coach the last time the Fever reached the Finals in 2016 and was also the WNBA Coach of the Year in 2023. More bench experience will come in handy for Caitlin Clark’s game, I have no doubt Clark will get her first playoff win in 2025. For now, while 36 players will participate in the new Unrivaled League, including Napheesa Collier, Sabrina Ionescu and Angel Reese, Clark will continue to train privately and prepare for her second season in the WNBA.
Read the full article here
