Caitlin Clark is NOT the victim of racism in the WNBA, says ex-Indiana player and coach as he reveals reason why Fever rookie is being targeted
Caitlin Clark finds herself at the center of huge controversy less than a month into her first season in the WNBA.
Yet according to former Indiana college player and coach Dan Dakich, racism does not explain why opposition players are targeting her on the court.
Clark, who was selected by the Indiana Fever with the first overall pick at this year’s WNBA Draft, has suffered a tough start to life in the big league – taking some severe physical punishment while losing nine of her first 12 games.
Earlier this month, Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter provoked uproar after forcibly slamming the Fever starlet to the ground off the ball, and appearing to joke about it afterwards with teammate Angel Reese.
Caitlin Clark is at the center of big controversy less than a month into her rookie WNBA season
Some say Clark is the victim of racism in the league, with Outkick founder Clay Travis recently stating she is being attacked because she is ‘a white heterosexual lady in a black lesbian league’.
Dakich, however, does not agree. ‘Of course, she’s being targeted,’ the ex-Hoosier star told TMZ Sports.
‘There’s a little bit of racism or sexism in there, you know, straight white female, okay, but that ain’t it to me.’
Instead, Dakich thinks other WNBA players are taking their frustrations out on Clark due to jealously.
The 61-year-old added that his wife Leigh, who coached Syracuse softball for decades, recently told him that women frequently don’t like to see other women triumph in athletics.
Clark has been brutally targeted by opposition players, with Chennedy Carter sparking outrage by shoving her to the ground earlier this month (pictured)
Former Indiana college player and coach Dan Dakich (right) feels envy explains why the Fever rookie is being targeted
Clark is the biggest star in women’s basketball today – and one of the most popular athletes in the sport full stop – after her epic college career with Iowa.
The 22-year-old, who recently struck a sponsorship contract with Nike worth an estimated $28million, is bringing more attention to the women’s game than ever before, with her Fever debut breaking ESPN audience records.
Like in college, she is now setting records as a WNBA player – becoming the fastest WNBA player to score at least 200 points and 50 assists in league history over the weekend.
