Rachel DeMita believes it is time for Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark to stop trying to win people over and instead own the narrative that surrounds her.
Speaking on her Courtside Club podcast, DeMita said she has grown tired of seeing Clark’s name used for other people’s agendas.
The conversation began after speculation about who would join the second season of Unrivaled, the 3-on-3 league that recently announced two new players. Many assumed Clark would be part of the roster, but the league confirmed that she would not participate.
For DeMita, that announcement became another example of how Clark’s name gets attached to conversations she never asked to be part of.
“Her name gets used so much in so many different ways, and honestly, I wouldn’t mind at this point if Caitlin just started her villain arc,” DeMita said.
“She needs to start putting her foot down because some of this stuff is getting a little wild. People are using her name for their hidden agendas on both sides.
“People are just using Caitlin’s name, and then if she says something, it’s not enough. If she doesn’t say anything, she never wants to speak out about anything. She cannot win no matter what she does. And then on top of that, she’s being used as a pawn in all of this.”
A season of scrutiny and recovery
For the second straight offseason, Clark is stepping away from the court to recover both physically and mentally.
She appeared in just 13 games during the 2025 season due to multiple muscle-related injuries that kept her sidelined for most of the year. Her absence proved costly for the Indiana Fever, who fell one game short of reaching the WNBA Finals.
DeMita’s comments reflect a growing conversation about how Clark’s popularity has become both a blessing and a burden.
As one of the most recognizable figures in women’s basketball, she attracts attention from fans who adore her and critics who question her every move.
DeMita’s advice to “embrace the villain role” is less about rebellion and more about self-preservation. She argues that Clark’s constant efforts to meet everyone’s expectations only invite more criticism.
The idea of embracing the villain role has precedent in sports. Many athletes have found freedom once they stopped worrying about public approval and focused solely on performance.
For Clark, that could mean tuning out the noise and leaning into the confidence that made her a college superstar.
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