Riley Gaines: Caitlin Clark’s abuse rooted in jealousy, not race or sexuality
Riley Gaines addresses the controversy surrounding WNBA star Caitlin Clark, asserting that concerns for Clark stem from her exceptional talent, not her race or sexuality. Gaines suggests jealousy from other players is fueling the on-court abuse and the league’s ‘self-imploding’ nature. She questions the double standards applied to different athletes.
Caitlin Clark has seen enough…
The Fever star got in an official’s face during Wednesday night’s home game against the Golden State Valkyries after a no-call appeared to send her over the edge.
On the trip down the floor before the confrontation, Clark drove to the basket and appeared to be shoved by Golden State veteran Kiah Stokes while attempting a layup. No foul was called.
CAITLIN CLARK BREAKS WNBA ASSISTS RECORD TO A CHORUS OF BOOS AS VALKYRIES SPOIL THE MILESTONE
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark is upset at a referee for not calling a foul when she took a shot against the Golden State Valkyries on July 15, 2026, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind. (Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire)
Caitlin Clark drives to the basket during the Indiana Fever game against the Golden State Valkyries at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind. (A.J. Mast/NBAE via Getty Images)
Moments later, with 4:20 remaining in the second quarter, officials whistled a foul on an Indiana teammate.
Clark immediately turned toward the referee, yelling from close range and dropping some F-bombs to argue that the Fever weren’t getting the same whistle at the other end.
Despite the heated exchange, Clark was not assessed a technical foul.
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The rough first half extended beyond the officiating. Clark went into halftime with just two points on 1-of-5 shooting, along with two rebounds and two assists. Before tipoff, Clark acknowledged she would be on a minutes restriction as she continues working her way back from injury under coach Stephanie White’s plan.
She later headed to the locker room after appearing to limp during the second quarter but returned to the bench before halftime to support her teammates.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark speaks to the media during a press conference before playing against the Golden State Valkyries at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., on July 15, 2026. (Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever is introduced before a game against the Golden State Valkyries at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., on July 15, 2026. (A.J. Mast/NBAE via Getty)
“Caitlin Clark should’ve stayed in the locker room. I’m so tired of her,” one critic wrote on X.
Another added, “Watching Caitlin Clark play is like watching a toddler have a tantrum.”
During the pregame media session, Clark was asked about handling the constant attention surrounding her. “There’s gonna be people that love you, there’s gonna be people that hate you. It probably means you’re doing something right. None of that really affects me,” Clark said.
“You know, not every one of you is gonna like me, and I understand that, and you know, that’s okay. … You gotta have thick skin to be in a position like this, and I think I have that too.”
She added, “I love you guys, but at the end of the day, if you don’t like me, my life’s still gonna go on.”
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Clark returned to the starting lineup to begin the second half.
The Fever ultimately lost the contest 88-75, tying a season low in points and falling to 14-10.
Clark finished with 13 points, six assists and three rebounds in 26 minutes, but her struggles from beyond the arc continued. She shot 1-for-8 from 3-point range and is just 15.8 percent from deep over her last three games.
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