Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark has been the biggest story of the young 2024 WNBA season.

Fever guard Caitlin Clark stands on the court in the first half against the Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena. / David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

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There have been plenty of highlights, a few lowlights and perhaps too much chatter surrounding the 22-year-old sharpshooter. One of the theories shared by fans—as well as Fever general manager Lin Dunn—is that the guard is being targeted for hard fouls by players around the league.

To deflect those claims, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert brought up the Fever’s most recent win—a 85–83 victory over the Washington Mystics in which Clark scored 30 points.

“Did anyone say she was targeted in that game?’’ Engelbert said to USA Today’s Josh Peter. “No, because everyone’s just looking for the outcome that they want. But it’s great fandom. It’s great discussion, and I think obviously we continue to look at or review games after the fact.”

Earlier this month, Fever coach Christie Sides said the team is submitting plays in which Clark isn’t getting calls on hard fouls to the WNBA league office for further review. Dunn echoed that statement on social media and requested that the WNBA cleans up the “unnecessary targeting actions.”

Engelbert, who said she has received thousands of emails from fans about the former Iowa guard this season, believes the physicality against the rookie is the norm rather than the exception.

“I think everybody’s watching Caitlin, so they’re focused only on Caitlin,’’ Engelbert said. “But when you look across other games (with) other players, it’s a physical game. There’s no doubt about it. It’s a pure shooter’s game, it’s a physical game, it’s a lot of pick-and-rolls, a lot of seeing the floor.’’

Clark and the Fever (3–10) return to the court Thursday to host the Atlanta Dream (5–5) at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

HOT NEWS:

ANGEL REESE SPEAKS ON ‘GETTING COOKED’ IN HER FIRST GAME, CONTINUING TO GROW THE WNBA TO RECLAIM HER CROWN| CBS SPORTS

Angel Reese speaks on ‘GETTING COOKED’ in her first game, continuing to grow the WNBA to reclaim her CROWN | CBS Sports

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Angel Reese is not the villain she’s been made out to be

CHICAGO — Angel Reese isn’t the villain here.

Oh, she’s willing to play the role. Has gotten comfortable in it, too, over the last two years. If this is what it takes to get, and keep, people watching women’s basketball, this idea that she hates Caitlin Clark or is jealous of her or any of the other mistruths about her, then fine. She’ll take that on.

But she shouldn’t have to. Nor is it accurate.

“I don’t think there’s any jealousy or hate or any of that. I think we’re appreciative to be a part of this journey,” Reese told USA TODAY Sports ahead of the Chicago Sky’s game against the New York Liberty on Tuesday night.

“Obviously, everybody wants this (increased spotlight) and has wanted this for a long time, especially my teammates who’ve been in this league for a little while now. They’ve deserved this for a really long time,” Reese added. “We’ve all been given these opportunities and we don’t take them for granted. So I’m just happy to be a part of it and continue to help grow the game as much as I can.”

So much of the discourse that has surrounded the WNBA in the first month of the season has been toxic and troubling. Rooted not in facts but in assumptions by people who until now have not paid much, if any, attention to the league.

It came to a head Saturday, when the Sky’s Chennedy Carter shoulder checked Clark hard and Reese was seen applauding. The narrative quickly became that Reese resents the credit Clark gets for the increased TV ratings, attendance and sponsor interest, and, as a corollary, the veterans want to put the high-profile rookie in her place even if it endangers her physically.

It’s an easy storyline to believe, especially the Angel as villain part, given the history between Reese and Clark. Their individual fan bases made up their minds about the other player long ago, and this just served to harden opinions.

But that’s ill-informed, too, zooming in on one play — which, to be clear, was inappropriate — of a 40-minute game without considering the context of the entire game and the rough-and-tumble nature of the league.

Worse, it does a disservice to both Clark and Reese.

“Nothing is malicious,” Liberty veteran Breanna Stewart said, speaking in general about the league’s physicality. “It’s just heat-of-the-moment things. Things happen in a game.”

Neither Clark nor Reese asked for the roles they’ve been assigned, Clark as the savior of the W and Reese the WWE-style anti-hero. By reducing them to these caricatures, it diminishes who they are as both people and players when all either wants is to play basketball and for more people to appreciate the game they love.

Expecting the rest of the W to roll out the red carpet every time Clark steps on the floor erases the progress of the previous 27 years and the women responsible for it. Ignores the role Reese and other young players have in the skyrocketing interest, too. Demanding the league step in and protect Clark is patronizing, suggesting she’s not strong enough to hold her own.

And painting Reese as the female Dennis Rodman disregards her considerable talent and hard work. She needed almost no time to prove wrong those who questioned whether her game would translate to the WNBA, coming into Tuesday night’s game leading the league in offensive rebounds and second to Clark among rookies in points per game.

Reese also is making a place for herself in the fashion world, attending the Met Gala last month and starring in Good American’s new ad campaign. Oh, and when LSU announced its student-athletes of the month Monday, guess who was one of them?

“I know my role and I know my purpose in this world,” Reese said. “God put me in this world for a reason. I’m beautiful, educated, smart — I’m so many different things. If (being a villain) is one of the characteristics that people want to put me as, that’s not a thing on it.

“But it doesn’t bother me,” she added. “I’ll continue to come in every day and work hard and grind for everything I deserve and I know that I deserve.”

Chicago loves hard-working, scrappy players who don’t back down to anyone — see the ’85 Bears defense — and the city has already claimed Reese as one of its own. Her jersey sold out almost immediately after she was drafted.

On Tuesday night, despite storms rolling in, some schools still in session and the Cubs and White Sox squaring off in the Crosstown Rivalry, Wintrust Arena was nearly full, with empty seats visible in only a few of the upper sections. Fans cheered every time the P.A. announcer said Reese’s name and they booed even louder when she was given a weak double technical late in the fourth quarter and ejected.

“I’ve dreamed of a moment like this,” Reese said. “Being able to see the (increased) coverage, so many people watching the games … who love us and enjoy us for who we are. All these players have a story that is just phenomenal. And I think that’s why everybody gravitates to us.

“Every little girl here gravitates to a different one of us,” Reese added. “That’s what’s important.”

Even if she wanted to just be Angel, that last part is why she’s willing to play the villain, too. She knows which one she really is.

It’s too bad so many others don’t.

HOT NEWS:

ACES’ A’JA WILSON BREAKS WNBA RECORD WITH EIGHTH STRAIGHT 25-POINT GAME

Aces’ A’ja Wilson breaks WNBA record with eighth straight 25-point game

A’ja Wilson is making a compelling argument for her third WNBA MVP award. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)The Las Vegas Aces aren’t looking their usual dominant selves so far this season, but A’ja Wilson certainly is.

The two-time MVP posted 32 points on 10-of-17 shooting with 15 rebounds, two assists and two blocks against the Phoenix Mercury on Thursday. That line in itself was impressive, but it was also Wilson’s eighth straight game with at least 25 points, breaking the WNBA regular season record.

The previous record-holder: Tina Charles with seven in 2021.

Some of Wilson’s points weren’t particularly fair:

 

Starring alongside Wilson on Thursday was Jackie Young, who posted 34 points, eight rebounds and four assists. She and Wilson are the first teammates to each post 30 points in a game this season and the third in Aces franchise history.

A’ja WilsonC – LVA

2024 – 2025 SEASON

28.3        11.4        1.9        2.7        33:42Pts           Reb        Stl       Blk        Min

Those performances helped the Aces bounce back from a three-game losing streak, defeating the Mercury 103-99 to improve their season record to 6-5. Considering the Aces didn’t reach their fifth loss last season until Aug. 26, that’s still quite a drop-off.

The team has been waiting a long time for the return of star point guard Chelsea Gray, which could come soon.

It has already been a historic season for Wilson, who posted the WNBA’s first 35-point, 10-rebound, five-steal game last week and became the first WNBA player to average 25 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks across nine games. Her numbers have certainly been MVP-worthy, but the two-time defending champions will be focused on