Discussions in the WNBA revolve around the collision between Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark and Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter.
Players and analysts have analyzed the incident’s impact on the league and Clark’s future.
Commentator Matt Barnes criticized Indiana Fever players for not supporting Clark during the incident. Despite a tough debut season, Clark has been posting solid averages of 15.1 points, 6.4 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game.
However, her performance hasn’t matched the efficiency she displayed during her remarkable NCAA career where she set numerous scoring records.
Originally from Des Moines, Iowa, Caitlin’s shooting percentage sits at just 35%, with a disappointing 29% accuracy from three-point range.
On top of this, she has been targeted with rough fouls and physical aggression from opponents, resulting in significant frustration.
In the midst of these difficulties, Barnes highlighted the absence of support from her teammates.
“I mean, throughout the season, she’s been getting beat up. Hard screens, elbows, knocked down. It is what it is; she’s not the first, she won’t be the last,” Barnes said. “My question is, where are her teammates at? Where y’all at? Where’s the rest of the Indiana Fever? I’ve seen a couple of girls smirk when she got knocked down and half-[expletive] picking her up. Y’all are supposed to protect the asset, protect the star.”
With a background in enforcing on the court during his NBA career, Barnes speaks from experience.
Renowned for his physical style of play and commitment to defending his teammates, he recognizes the significance of standing up for fellow players, particularly when they become targets for aggressive tactics from rival teams.
“I was someone who protected the stars. You [expletive] with Kobe, CP, Blake, the list goes on,” Barnes shared.
Throughout history, the enforcer role has been a vital component of a team’s dynamics. Examples like Michael Jordan relying on Charles Oakley in his early NBA days and Steph Curry having Draymond Green as his protector highlight the importance of this role in basketball.
With a 3-9 record placing them close to the bottom of the league, the Fever’s lack of solidarity on the court doesn’t come as a surprise to Barnes. He attributes unity as a key factor for success in team sports, emphasizing that the Fever squad must prioritize it to potentially change the trajectory of their season.
“It’s going to be a problem because you guys are supposed to be a family, and you wonder why you sit at the bottom of the league right now. It’s because y’all don’t protect each other. The coach doesn’t do [expletive] about it, the players don’t do [expletive] about it, y’all should be ashamed of it,” Barnes continued.
