Caitlin Clark had a historic night on Saturday, May 17, leading the Indiana Fever to a dominant opening victory while becoming the fastest player in WNBA history to record three triple-doubles. Yet, despite her milestone performance, the league couldn’t spell her name correctly.
The Fever kicked off the 2025 season with a statement win, defeating the Chicago Sky 93-58 behind Clark’s 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. Three other Indiana players contributed double-digit scoring: Aliyah Boston (19 points), Natasha Howard (15), and Kelsey Mitchell (15).
To the delight of fans, the game was not without controversy, such as the flagrant foul Clark committed on her archrival, Angel Reese, adding a new chapter to one of the WNBA’s most heated rivalries.
The WNBA’s embarrassing mistake
Despite Clark’s outstanding performance, the WNBA made an unfortunate error when recapping opening weekend in its Around the League segment, drawing swift criticism from fans online.
The X (formerly Twitter) account @nosyone4 shared a screenshot where the WNBA recapped the most notable moments from the first two days of the season, including Clark’s triple-double and Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier’s impressive 34-point outing.
However, the post contained two glaring mistakes: the league incorrectly spelled the names of two of its biggest stars as “Caitlyn” and “Naphessa,” sparking immediate backlash on social media.
“Who is Naphessa and Caitlyn?” one user mocked, while another complained, “Imagine not knowing how to spell two of the top five players in the league. Can’t make this sh*t up.”
A third user expressed frustration, writing, “They can never do sh*t right,” while another theorized, “That’s how haters spell Caitlin’s name.”
What’s next for Clark and the Fever?
Clark and the Fever now turn their attention to their upcoming mini-series against the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday and Thursday.
Then, on May 24, they face a major test against the reigning champion, the New York Liberty.
On June 22, the Fever will battle their longtime nemesis, the Las Vegas Aces, who swept them in four meetings last season.
Finally, on June 7, Clark and her teammates get another shot at the Sky-their second of three matchups this year-giving Angel Reese a perfect opportunity for revenge.
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