Is Caitlin Clark already the most hated WNBA player? Her list of public enemies grows

With great power comes great responsibility for the Indiana Fever rookie.

Caitlin Clark during her WNBA regular season debut.LAPRESSE

Caitlin Clark made her long-awaited WNBA debut on Tuesday night. It didn’t go as planned, as she struggled overall and her Indiana Fever lost handily to the Connecticut Sun. Clark is under a lot of pressure to perform, and people have taken this one game as a chance to bury her already.

Many branded Diana Taurasi a “hater” when she continuously mentioned that Clark and other high-profile college players will face a learning curve in the WNBA. She mentioned it during the 2024 NCAA Tournament when Clark was at Iowa.

Diana Taurasi gives Caitlin Clark harsh reality check about adjusting to WNBA

Diana Taurasi and Sheryl Swoopes’ comments resurface after Caitlin Clark’s mediocre debut

“Reality is coming. There’s levels to this thing. We all went through it… There is gonna be a transition period where you’re going to have to give yourself some grace as a rookie, and it might take a little bit longer for some people.”

There was definitely transitioning happening in Clark’s first WNBA regular season game, as she turned the ball over a whopping 10 times.

Taurasi wasn’t the only WNBA legend that heeded caution before Clark stepped on a WNBA court. Sheryl Swoopes had also discussed the possible learning curve for her.

“Will Caitlin Clark be a good pro? Absolutely. Will Caitlin Clark come into the WNBA and do what she’s doing right now? Immediately, absolutely not. Not gonna happen.”

Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson have also made eyebrow-raising comments about Caitlin Clark

Now that she’s in the WNBA, Clark has already sparked change within the league as teams have begun flying charter to road games. Clark and the Fever did so for the season opener. But even last year’s MVP, Breanna Stewart, had to take a bus for the first game. That didn’t sit well with Stewart, and it happened with other players as well.

The MVP before Stewart, A’ja Wilson, has also thrown some shade at Clark in recent days. Wilson was quoted as saying that “it boils my blood when people say it’s not about race because it is“, in regard to Clark being marketed more due to her being white.

Clark has only played one WNBA game so far, but she has a target on her back due to things that aren’t even in her control.