Caitlin Clark made a thunderous return to the WNBA court, scoring a season-high 32 points in the Indiana Fever’s 102-88 win over the New York Liberty on Saturday.
Having just come back from a five-game absence due to a quadriceps injury, Clark looked sharper than ever. She poured in 25 of her 32 points in the first half alone, tying her career-best with seven three-pointers and adding nine assists and eight rebounds. The Fever also set a franchise record with 17 made threes, largely due to Clark’s performance.
However, shortly after her standout night, social media became a breeding ground for a peculiar rumor: that Clark was drug tested immediately following the game.
The claim originated from a post by “NBA Centel,” a well-known parody account on X (formerly Twitter), joking that Clark had already been drug tested 11 times this season. Although meant in jest, the satire quickly spun out of control as some fans began sharing it as if it were legitimate news.
How a joke became a viral hoax
What started as a light-hearted joke quickly morphed into a widespread misunderstanding. Despite “NBA Centel” being a parody account with a reputation for fake, comedic content, some users missed the humor and assumed the post was factual.
As the claim began circulating, debates flared across social media platforms, with fans questioning whether the WNBA had subjected Clark to extra drug screenings because of her explosive performance.
In reality, there is no evidence that Clark was drug tested after the game against the Liberty. While the WNBA does have a policy in place for random drug testing throughout the season, nothing suggests Clark was singled out on this particular occasion.
The league has not issued any statements confirming additional testing for her, and no credible sports news outlet has reported such an event.
These types of viral stories are not uncommon in the sports world, especially when a young star like Clark dominates a game. But while rumors and speculation are often part of the territory for high-profile athletes, they also highlight the importance of verifying information before spreading it.
Clark’s focus remains on the court, where she continues to prove herself as one of the league’s brightest young talents. Instead of entertaining baseless speculation, fans should be celebrating her resilience and performance following an injury break.
As her rookie season progresses, Caitlin Clark is giving fans plenty to talk about-no drug test rumor necessary.
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