Since the beginning of the 2024 WNBA season, Caitlin Clark, a guard with the Indiana Fever, has been the most talked about player.

There have been a lot of high points, a few low points, and possibly an excessive amount of talk about the sharpshooter who is 22 years old. One of the hypotheses that is being put forward by fans, as well as by the general manager of the Fever, Lin Dunn, is that the guard is being singled out by players from all around the league for significant fouls.

To refute those assertions, Cathy Engelbert, the commissioner of the Women’s National Basketball Association, brought up the Fever’s most recent triumph, which was an 85–83 victory over the Washington Mystics. Clark scored 30 points in that game.

Do you know if anyone mentioned that she was the focus of that game? According to what Engelbert told Josh Peter of USA Today. The answer is no, because everyone is just interested in achieving the result that they desire. However, it is a wonderful fandom. It’s wonderful discussion, and I think obviously we continue to look at or examine games after the fact.”

Earlier this month, Fever coach Christie Sides said the team is submitting plays in which Clark isn’t getting calls on harsh fouls to the WNBA league office for additional evaluation. Using social media, Dunn echoed that message and made a request to the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) to clear up the “unnecessary targeting actions.”

According to Engelbert, who stated that she has gotten thousands of emails from fans regarding the former Iowa guard during this season, she is of the opinion that the physicality that was displayed against the rookie is the norm rather than the exception.

“I think everybody’s watching Caitlin, so they’re focused exclusively on Caitlin,’’ Engelbert said. “But when you look across other games (with) other players, it’s a physical game. There’s no doubt about that. It’s a true shooter’s game, it’s a physical game, it’s a lot of pick-and-rolls, a lot of seeing the floor.’’

Clark and the Fever (3–10) return to the court Thursday to host the Atlanta Dream (5–5) at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.