Caitlin Clark might cause first major WNBA head to roll
After two straight losses to the defending champions Las Vegas Aces, Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever faced the 9-29 Dallas Wings on September 15th. A win guaranteed the sixth spot.
The Fever dropped to a 19-19 record after losses to the Aces, and Clark made no mistake in returning the Fever to winning ways, scoring a career-high 35 points in the 110-109 victory.
Sports Illustrated reports that Clark entered the game against Dallas on six technical fouls, having picked up one for smacking a basket's stanchion out of frustration upon receiving a foul call.
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A seventh technical would have resulted in Clark missing the season finale against Washington before the playoffs, and she was able to avoid it despite nearly losing her temper at a foul call in the first half against the Wings.
Teammate Aliyah Boston forcefully pushed Clark away, subsequently stopping her from picking up a seventh tech. Fever reporter Scott Agness called out head coach Christie Sides for not stepping in and defending her star player.
Agness said on X: "Aliyah Boston forcefully moved Caitlin Clark away from the officials after arguing a call against her. She has six this season, so one more, and she's suspended for the regular-season finale. That's where Christie Sides has to speak up for CC since she cannot."
Clark was removed from the game after that foul, and fans expressed their disappointment in Sides' handling of the situation, particularly in removing her from the game.
According to Athlon Sports, one fan said, "This. Christie Sides has got to learn to SPEAK UPPPP. Becky Hammon sometimes does too much, but those players KNOW their coach has their back. They don't have to speak up because she's got it. The Fever is missing that."
Another fan replied, "Fire Christie Sides," and another said, "#FireSides." A third fan expressed her frustration: "Can you call her out in the presser??? It's ridiculous at this point. She NEVER speaks up for her players."
It would be impossible for the Fever to fire Sides with the WNBA Playoffs right around the corner. However, Caitlin Clark already has a lot of leverage in the league, and the fans have made it clear how they feel. Can she cause Sides to lose her job?
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