UConn women’s basketball head coach Geno Auriemma claims Caitlin Clark is being ‘targeted’ in her rookie season in the WNBA.
Despite bringing plenty of eyes to the league upon her entry, Clark has not received the warmest of welcomes from her fellow players. The narrative grew larger when Chicago’s Chennedy Carter bodychecked Clark during their game on June 2.
While addressing reporters in Connecticut, Auriemma acknowledged that although the challenges of being a rookie are inherent, Clark also has a target on her back for other players.
‘Is she facing the rookie challenge, the rookie hardships that are inherent with being a rookie? Yes,’ Auriemma said before the UConn Coaches Road Show on Tuesday. ‘She’s also being targeted.’
To add to the amplified physicality, Clark’s college rival and Chicago rookie Angel Reese has actively been taking jabs at the No. 1 overall pick.
Geno Auriemma claimed that Caitlin Clark is being targeted by other players in the WNBA
The UConn coach cited how other high-profile players were not getting ‘beat up’ as rookies
Aside from aiming at Clark on social media after a win over the New York Liberty in May, Reese said she embraced being the ‘bad guy’ after cheering Carter for throwing her shoulder into the former Iowa star.
Furthermore, Auriemma mentioned other instances of high-profile collegiate stars transitioning to the pros and their reception from colleagues. He then pointed out how Clark’s not-so-warm welcome is more extreme than others.
‘I don’t remember when [Michael] Jordan came into the [NBA], guys looking to go out and beat him up,’ Auriemma said. ‘I don’t remember when [Larry] Bird and Magic [Johnson] came in the league and elevated the NBA, them getting targeted and getting beat up just because of who they were and the attention they were getting.
‘Appreciate the fact that now’s the time [for the WNBA]. I get it. It’s long overdue. Why are you blaming that kid? It’s not her fault, because you would trade places with her in a minute, but you are not there. You’re not her. So, you’re [complaining] that she’s getting what she’s getting.’
Clark was brutally bodychecked by Chicago’s Chennedy Carter in their June 2 showdown
Auriemma credited Clark for taking the challenges of her rookie season in stride
The Fever have been off to a difficult start with a 2-9 record, sitting 11th in the WNBA standings
In contrast to Auriemma’s comments, Liberty star and reigning WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart insisted physicality is universal and is something all players need to adjust to.
Stewart was the No. 1 overall pick in 2016 and won four national titles in UConn with Auriemma.
‘This is the best league in the world. Nobody’s going to give you anything easy,’ said Stewart. ‘[It’s about] understanding that and learning how to play through it at this level. They’re the fastest, the strongest, the quickest. That’s why this is the WNBA.
‘Continue to pay attention to what we do, understand that we’re trying to bring our best basketball. When we’re playing against other teams, we’re obviously trying to win. But as a collective, we’re trying to bring this league to a better place altogether.’
Liberty star and WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart insisted that the physicality is part of the game
Stewart was the No. 1 overall pick in 2016 and won four NCAA titles with Auriemma at UConn
Auriemma also acknowledged how Clark has handled the not-so-smooth transition on The Dan Patrick Show.
‘I think she’s handling it great,’ Auriemma said. ‘I think she talks a lot of s***, and she gets a lot of s*** back.
‘She deserves everything she gets because she gives it as good as she gets it. She’s just not built for the physicality of this league, and she’s not quick enough to get away from the physicality.’
‘When she gets it, she has elite skills that are going to help her,’ Auriemma added. ‘She needs to be on a better team, and she needs experience.’
