Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark has been the subject of numerous controversial physical encounters since entering the WNBA in 2024, sparking widespread discussion about player safety, officiating, and whether the league's most prominent player is being targeted. These incidents have drawn scrutiny from fans, media, and even former players, with many questioning the consistency of foul calls and the league's response.
Clark's rookie season saw a series of notable incidents:
On May 18, 2024, in her first professional game, New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart set a screen that sent Clark to the floor. While the play was deemed legal and appeared to be a result of Clark not seeing the screen, it ignited social media debate.
A week later, on May 28, Clark commented on the physicality directed at her, suggesting that some opponents received leniency. She stated, "I think everybody is physical with me, they get away with things that probably other people don’t get away with." In that game against the Los Angeles Sparks, Clark shot 15 free throws.
Two days later, on May 30, Clark exchanged words with Seattle Storm guard Victoria Vivians after a chest bump following a three-pointer. The interaction resulted in double technical fouls. Clark remarked, "Feel like I'm getting hammered."
The most widely discussed incident occurred on June 1, 2024, when Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter delivered a hard shoulder/hip check to Clark away from the ball during an inbound play, knocking Clark down. The play, initially called a common foul, was later upgraded by the WNBA to a flagrant-1 violation. This incident intensified debates about Clark being unfairly targeted and led to further scrutiny of officiating.
Just one day after the Carter incident, on June 2, Clark suffered a ruptured eardrum during a game against the Liberty after running into a screen set by Jonquel Jones. Clark later revealed the injury, attributing it to not hearing the call-out for the screen, calling it a "great screen."
On June 14, 2024, during a matchup against the Chicago Sky, Angel Reese contested a layup by Clark, hitting her forearm to Clark's head and knocking her down. The foul was upgraded to a Flagrant-1. Reese later commented on perceived inconsistencies in officiating.
Clark's own physicality drew a technical foul on July 14, 2024, during a game against the Minnesota Lynx. After Lynx forward Alanna Smith hooked Clark's arm on a fast break, Clark swiped backward to free herself, inadvertently striking Smith in the face. While Smith was assessed a personal foul, Clark received a technical foul.
During the third meeting between the Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky on Aug. 30, 2024, Diamond DeShields delivered a forceful hit that sent Clark sliding across the floor. The foul was upgraded to a flagrant-1 after review. DeShields later posted about receiving hate comments online following the incident.
On Sept. 11, 2024, Clark took an elbow to the face from Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young. Clark implored referees to review the play for a Flagrant-1, but no upgrade was made, fueling fan frustration about perceived missed calls.
The most severe injury of her rookie season occurred on Sept. 24, 2024, in Game 1 of the playoffs against the Connecticut Sun. Sun guard DiJonai Carrington's hand, with a long fingernail, poked Clark in the eye as Clark made a pass. Despite Clark's visible distress, no foul was called. The incident led to viral replays and intense online debate, with some accusing Carrington of intentional gouging. Carrington maintained it was unintentional, though a later Instagram Live video featuring Carrington and her girlfriend drew further controversy.
In her second season, on May 24, 2025, Clark was involved in a late-game play against the New York Liberty where Natasha Cloud defended her. Replays showed Cloud's shoulder making contact as the ball was knocked loose, but no foul was called. Clark's frustration with the no-call was evident, and it cost her a chance at a WNBA milestone. Clark later expressed anger at the officiating.
On June 17, 2025, during a game against the Connecticut Sun, Jacy Sheldon poked Clark in the eye. When Clark reacted by pushing Sheldon, Marina Mabrey shoved Clark to the ground. Fever player Sophie Cunningham initiated a physical altercation, leading to three ejections. The league retroactively upgraded Mabrey's foul to a Flagrant-2.
Clark's second season was cut short by injury in July 2025.
The most recent controversial hit occurred on June 24, 2026, when Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas appeared to knee Clark in the groin and then press a closed fist into her throat during a scramble for a loose ball. No foul was called on the play, leading to strong criticism from Fever head coach Stephanie White, who called the non-call "egregious" and "utterly disrespectful." The league later retroactively assessed Thomas a Flagrant-2 penalty and issued a one-game suspension. Clark left that game with a back injury.