Caitlin Clark Faces Criticism from Former WNBA Player After Controversial Shot in Fever’s Narrow Loss to Aces
Caitlin Clark, the rookie sensation of the Indiana Fever, found herself under scrutiny following a tough 78-74 defeat against the Las Vegas Aces on September 13. This loss marked Indiana’s fourth in their last 10 games, with the contest going down to the wire. With just over a minute left on the clock and the Fever trailing by two points at 72-70, Clark attempted a bold 30-foot step-back three-pointer, a shot well within her usual range. However, she missed, and despite the Fever getting a few more opportunities, fans and critics alike were quick to point to Clark’s decision as the turning point in the game.
Former WNBA player Van Whiting did not hold back when a fan posted the video of Clark’s missed shot on X (formerly Twitter). “It was a bad shot,” Whiting commented, adding that there were 15 seconds left on the shot clock and a clear mismatch in the paint. Whiting specifically referred to Fever center Aaliyah Boston, who had sealed her defender inside the paint after setting a pick for Clark, creating what could have been a higher percentage scoring opportunity.
In another tweet, Whiting, who played for the Detroit Shock and Minnesota Lynx during her three-year WNBA career, compared Clark’s decision-making to that of NBA star Steph Curry. While Curry is known for his deep three-point shooting, Whiting implied that Clark’s choice was less justifiable given the circumstances.
Whiting, whose WNBA career averages stood at 4.8 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, has previously voiced her critiques of Clark, particularly highlighting what she sees as a double standard within the league. She described this double standard as “exhausting” and suggested that Clark’s mistakes receive less scrutiny compared to others.
Despite the criticism, Clark had a solid overall performance against the Aces, scoring 18 points on 7-of-18 shooting. She also contributed eight rebounds and nine assists, setting a new single-season record for assists. However, Clark’s six turnovers were a point of concern, especially as the Fever were swept by the Aces in their four-game season series.
As Clark continues to make waves in her rookie season, the debate over her decision-making and shot selection is likely to persist, especially as Indiana seeks to find consistency in their play.
