Since bursting onto the WNBA scene as the No. 1 overall pick in 2024, Caitlin Clark has not only captivated fans with her elite shooting and court vision but has also become a frequent target of intense physical play.
The latest flareup came in midJune during Indiana‘s game against the Connecticut Sun, when Clark was poked in the eye byJacy Sheldon and later shoved to the floor by Marina Mabrey.
This incident reignited conversations around how Clark is being defended-and whether the Fever should deploy someone whose primary role would be to protect their franchise player from such rough tactics.
The debate was reignited by a segment on Sports Illustrated’s “Open Floor”, where insiders Chris Mannix and Rachel Nichols weighed in.
Mannix pressed Nichols: “Can we get Caitlin Clark a little protection out there? That’s your [Michael] Jordan, that’s your Steph Curry… You gotta protect the face of the league, ladies.”
He highlighted how Sophie Cunningham‘s late-game foul on Sheldon was the first real protective action from Indiana, occurring only after the damage had been done.
Nichols, however, countered that Clark has shown remarkable resilience under pressure:
“I don’t really worry about her toughness. She might be her own enforcer.”
To draw comparisons, Nichols referred to enduring NBA star Steph Curry, who often faces physical schemes intended to slow him down:
“Look, we’ve seen Steph Curry… be beat up like this for years. I mean, that is basically the game plan against Steph Curry … But, so far, she’s been able to handle everything that’s been thrown at her.”
Yet Mannix wasn’t convinced that toughness alone is enough:
“We’ve seen Caitlin Clark get laid out a few times… We’re in Year 2 now with Caitlin Clark. I think people on her team… You gotta level that girl, right?”
He pointed to Draymond Green‘s protective role for Curry on Golden State-a bodyguard presence that helps shield their superstar from physical threats.
Echoes of the warrior blueprint
Clark‘s offensive prowess-marked by incredible range and ballhandling-is frequently likened to Curry‘s. Broadcaster Dick Vitale noted her deep shooting as onpar with the Warriors legend:
“Yes Caitlin Clark ‘s range is only challenged by… Stephen Curry… She led the Indiana Fever to a big Win vs the New York Liberty… I am in AWE!”, he wrote on X.
This comparison was further cemented during her return from a quad strain, when she racked up 32 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds-mirroring Curry‘s “flurry” of fast-paced 3s that shift momentum within seconds.
But unlike Curry, who benefits from teammates like Green serving as his guardian on the court, Clark often finds herself exposed.
During the Sun game, Indiana did not respond until much later, prompting questions about whether Sophie Cunningham‘s hard foul was reactionary rather than preemptive.
The sequence crystallized the issue: Clark was left to endure multiple physical violations before her teammates intervened.
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