Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark had another historic outing in the team’s recent overtime win over the Chicago Sky. While the 24-year-old hit multiple big shots during the 114-106 victory, she continues to be scrutinized for her body language.
Some of the Fever star’s fans and critics feel her on-court behavior has become an issue, and analyst Jason Whitlock weighed in after watching her recent performance.
Jason Whitlock Criticizes Caitlin Clark, Compares Her to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Whitlock ripped Clark for her constant complaining to officials and unfavorably compared her style of play to that of Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Clark had a near triple-double in the Fever’s 114-106 OT win over the Sky, finishing the game with 32 points, 7 rebounds, and 10 assists. She made history in the process as she now holds the WNBA record for most games with at least 30 points and 10 assists.
However, Whitlock wasn’t focused on congratulating Clark; instead, he drew attention to her poor body language, specifically her animated complaint to a referee about what she believed was a missed foul call.
After Clark received a technical foul during the Sky matchup, Whitlock described her actions as a tantrum and compared her to reigning two-time NBA MVP Gilgeous-Alexander for seeking foul calls even with minimal contact.
Whitlock slammed Clark for her demeanor and constant referee complaints, writing, “Caitlin Clark was a really hard watch yesterday. She’s untouched here, throws a tantrum, draws a tech. Her body language all game awful. Foul-baiting as much as SGA. Hard watch.”
He then challenged another narrative about Clark, namely that her opponents often go over the line while defending her and intentionally hurt her.
He claimed opponents used fewer questionable tactics this season, which makes Clark’s behavior look worse.
Whitlock posted, “I’ve watched every game. I’ve even rewatched a few. Here’s what’s changed this season. Caitlin’s opponents, including Angel Reese, haven’t displayed much animus towards her. Here’s what hasn’t changed. Caitlin whining and demonstrating bad body language when anything goes wrong.”
Clark took 15 free throws during the game vs. Chicago, which is an incentive for her to keep doing what she’s doing, even if Whitlock and others find it hard to watch.
The critique arrives right in the middle of an impressive statistical campaign for the former first overall pick. Clark is currently averaging 20.3 points and nearly 8 assists per game for the Fever.
Some of the most notable supporters of the two-time All-Star may start to lose patience with her, though she will likely continue trying to block out the ongoing noise and focus on keeping Indiana’s season rolling.
She poured in 25 points and added 5 assists to lead the Fever to an 85-75 victory over the Sun on Saturday, helping the Fever to a third consecutive win and pushing their overall record to 8-5.
