Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever were riding high after a franchise-record 123-88 blowout win over the Connecticut Sun. But the good vibes were overshadowed by a USA Today’s strongly worded column criticizing the Indiana Fever superstar.
The criticism spread quickly as Clark’s supporters questioned both the article’s claims and its overall message.
Nancy Armour, USA Today Columnist, Ignites Firestorm With Caitlin Clark Column
In a piece titled “Caitlin Clark’s flopping isn’t just annoying — it’s becoming dangerous,” columnist Nancy Armour accused Clark of exaggerating contact during recent incidents against the Las Vegas Aces and Golden State Valkyries, arguing her reactions amount to flopping.
The article pointed to two recent incidents involving Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray and Golden State Valkyries center Kiah Stokes. Armour wrote that video from both plays showed little contact and described Clark’s reactions as flopping.
Armour went further, tying Clark’s on-court frustration to the racist messages Chelsea Gray received after the Aces game, suggesting Clark bears some responsibility for how a fringe element of her fanbase behaves.
The column landed just as Clark continues her historic run this season, having recently posted a career-high 45-point game against the Seattle Storm and become the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 200 three-pointers.
Against Connecticut, she added 27 points on 8-of-13 shooting with 11 assists in just 27 minutes as the Fever tied a WNBA record with its 11th 100-point game of the season.
Fans and media figures argued the timing and framing of Armour’s piece ignored that context entirely, and video from both incidents she cited contradicted her characterization of the plays as minor contact.
After the column went viral for all the wrong reasons, the WNBA community on X did not hold back, blasting it as dishonest and unbecoming of legitimate sports journalism.
“This is why NO ONE is supporting you guys and soon you’ll no longer be in publication. This is disgraceful and disgusting not real journalism. I hope whoever did this and signed off on misinformation & mischaracterization and flat out LIES,” one Clark loyal fumed, accusing the outlet of signing off on misinformation.
This is why NO ONE is supporting you guys and soon you’ll no longer be in publication. This is disgraceful and disgusting not real journalism. I hope whoever did this and signed off on misinformation & mischaracterization and flat out LIES
— Raquel (MHG👼🏾) (@SOULbeautifulme) July 23, 2026
“Not gonna give it any oxygen specifically, but that one article is legitimately unhinged and not ok. That should have never made print,” WNBA reporter Robin Lundberg opined.
“There is a section/paragraph in this story that is among the most insane choices to include I’ve ever read in any sports story from a serious publication. Like, the kind of crazy where I genuinely have no idea how an editor let it get through,” The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie observed.
There is a section/paragraph in this story that is among the most insane choices to include I’ve ever read in any sports story from a serious publication. Like, the kind of crazy where I genuinely have no idea how an editor let it get through. https://t.co/p3vZosbQT2
— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) July 23, 2026
“This is one of the most vile, repulsive, disgusting piece of [expletive] articles I’ve ever read. It incites possible violence against Caitlin Clark & her fans. Everyone involved in getting this out there should be fired & banned from all media. Good stuff you shit for brains,” CDS Sports Podcast ranted.
“This is one of the most ridiculous, jumbled mess of words I’ve ever read. This is not journalism. It’s activism and it’s totally ignorant,” Mid Mo Sports x handle asserted.
“Also, incredible ratio you have going you tone-deaf radicals. People cannot hate the media enough,” Mid Mo Sports added in a scathing follow-up.
Also, incredible ratio you have going you tone-deaf radicals. People cannot hate the media enough. You all have the approval rating of kidney stones.
— Mid_Mo_Sports (@Mid_Mo_Sports) July 23, 2026
“You can try to gaslight people all you want, the video clearly exists saying the opposite. This doesn’t include the fist to the throat, or all the other flagrant fouls she’s taken. But keep lying to people, it’s REAL helpful,” Bad Sports Refs X handle pushed back.
“Oh, you mean like this one?? Where no foul was even called until the next day?” One X user pointed out, referencing to Alyssa Thomas hitting Clark’s throat. “This is a truly disgusting article. And grossly irresponsible,” another Clark supporter under the handle @SarcasmStardust wrote.
This is a truly disgusting article. And grossly irresponsible.
— Comrade Misty is Putin’s Buddy (@SarcasmStardust) July 22, 2026
The debate once again highlights how anything involving Clark quickly becomes one of the biggest talking points in women’s basketball.
Meanwhile, Clark sits one technical foul away from a league-mandated suspension, adding another layer to the debate as the Fever push forward with one of the most dominant offensive stretches in franchise history.
