Is the WNBA Letting Caitlin Clark Get Targeted? A Breakdown of 10 Controversial Calls That Fans Say Crossed the Line

From highlight-reel threes to near-flagellant hits, Caitlin Clark’s rookie season hasn’t just been electric—it’s been dangerous. The question no one in the league office wants to answer?

Is she being targeted—and is the WNBA turning a blind eye?

INTRO: From Superstar to Scapegoat?

Caitlin Clark didn’t just enter the WNBA—she lit it on fire. Her arrival brought a surge of ticket sales, record-breaking ratings, and fan engagement the league hadn’t seen in years. But for every highlight, there’s been a jaw-dropping moment of silence—from referees.

Blatant fouls. Missed calls. Cheap shots. Technicals for… what, exactly?

At this point, it’s not just bad officiating—it’s a pattern. And fans are starting to wonder:

Is the WNBA failing its biggest star? Or worse—punishing her for becoming one?

Let’s break down 10 of the most controversial moments that have WNBA fans fuming—and force us to confront an uncomfortable truth: something’s not right.

1. The Eye Jab That Never Happened (Apparently)

Date: September 22 — Playoffs, Fever vs. Connecticut Sun
DeWanna Bonner lunges for the ball, but ends up smacking Caitlin Clark square in the face. No whistle. No review. Just Clark dazed, blinking, with a visible bruise forming.

Result: Clark goes 1-for-9 in the first half.
Reaction: Social media explodes. Even ESPN analysts admit it was a “clear foul.”

The League’s Response? Crickets.

2. The Shoulder Check Heard ’Round the Arena

Date: August 28 — vs. Connecticut Sun
Alyssa Thomas bulldozes through Clark with a body check that would’ve drawn a penalty in hockey. The impact sends Clark flying. The refs? Common foul. Play on.

One fan tweeted:

“If that isn’t a flagrant, what is?”

3. The Skylar Diggins-Smith Shove

Date: August 18 — vs. Seattle Storm
During a timeout, Clark is hyping up the crowd. Out of nowhere, Skylar Diggins-Smith shoves her. The crowd gasps. No tech. No foul. No warning. No nothing.

Meanwhile, Clark’s been T’d up for… tapping the backboard?

Make it make sense.

4. The Most Ridiculous Technical of the Year

Date: Same game — Seattle vs. Fever
Clark misses a three. She taps the backboard in frustration. Within seconds, the whistle blows.

Technical foul.

The explanation? “Disrespecting the game.”

Even the announcers laughed. But not the fans, who began chanting at the refs.

5. The Jackie Young Face Hit

Date: September 11 — vs. Las Vegas Aces
Clark drives the lane and takes a hand to the face. Refs call a common foul, despite her staggering back with visible contact.

Commentators called it “reckless.”
The refs called it… “basketball.”

6. The Triple Body Slam Sequence

Date: May 22 — vs. Seattle Storm
Clark goes to the rim—hit once, twice, three times. Still no whistle.

Coach Christie Sides postgame:

“We’ve just got to get better officiating. Caitlin deserves those calls.”

And she’s not wrong.

7. The Screen That Nearly Rolled Her Ankle Into Retirement

Date: May 20 — vs. Connecticut Sun
Clark tries to fight through a screen. Her ankle rolls awkwardly, she goes down in pain—and the refs just let play continue.

A future face of the league laying on the floor… while the refs look the other way.

8. The Brianna Stewart Blindside

Date: May 18 — vs. New York Liberty
Early in the season, Clark gets hit by a bone-rattling screen from Stewart. Fans gasped. Replay showed excessive movement.

Still… no call.

Pattern yet?

9. The Stephanie Dolson Swat-and-Body Bump

Date: June 19 — vs. Washington Mystics
Clark drives, gets the ball swatted—but also bodied. Her head jerks back, and still no foul.

Fans begin chanting “REFS SUCK!”

This is Washington, D.C. These aren’t just Indiana fans anymore.

10. The Double Standard in Technicals

We’ve seen players in the WNBA yell, flex, scream into cameras—and never get T’d up. But Clark?

She taps the scorer’s table in frustration.
She celebrates a teammate’s bucket.
She scowls at a ref.

Boom. Technical.

It’s gotten to the point where Caitlin Clark being emotional is a foul, but getting fouled isn’t.

Why This Matters

This isn’t just about missed calls. It’s about respect. It’s about player safety. It’s about optics.

Caitlin Clark is being held to a different standard, and whether it’s unconscious bias, veteran resentment, or a league trying to “humble” her—it’s backfiring.

“What little girl wants to grow up and play in a league where you’re targeted like that?”
— A viral comment with over 1 million views

So… What’s Really Going On?

Some say it’s rookie hazing. Others say the league is trying to protect its veteran stars. But if the WNBA wants to grow, it needs to stop sending the message that being popular equals being punished.

Every big hit. Every missed call. Every eye-roll from a ref sends a message—not just to Clark, but to fans, sponsors, and future players.

And that message right now?
“We don’t protect our stars. We humble them.”

What’s Next for Clark—and the WNBA?

Clark continues to shine despite the adversity, dropping 20+ points, setting rookie records, and winning games the Fever haven’t seen in years. But the wear is showing.

How long can she keep this up if she’s playing against defenders and officials every night?

The WNBA is at a crossroads.

They can either protect their stars… or lose them.

Final Thought: When Does It Stop Being Basketball?

Clark’s resilience has never been in doubt. Her talent? Undeniable. But fans aren’t stupid—and they’re done being silent.

These calls aren’t just controversial. They’re dangerous.

The league either needs to get serious about officiating—or watch the fanbase it just earned walk away.

🔔 Like, comment, and share if you believe the WNBA needs accountability NOW.
📢 Drop your thoughts below:

Is Caitlin Clark being targeted?

Should the league issue an official review of these calls?

Or is this just “rookie treatment” in disguise?

Either way, the question stands:
If this isn’t bias… what is?