Geno Auriemma says Caitlin Clark is being 'targeted' in WNBA

Are Caitlin Clark's fellow WNBA players unfairly targeting the star rookie, or is the most-hyped young player in the league's history simply paying her dues?

One of the most respected voices in women's college basketball and the sport as a whole, longtime UConn head coach Geno Auriemma, is squarely in the former camp.

"Is she facing the rookie challenge, the rookie hardships that are inherent with being a rookie? Yes," Auriemma told reporters Tuesday, via ESPN. "She's also being targeted."

The debate over how Clark's opponents are treating her cranked up after Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter body-checked Clark to the ground late in the Indiana Fever's 71-70 win over the Sky on Saturday, as teammates — including Clark's former college rival Angel Reese — appeared to applaud from Chicago's bench.

Some, including FS1's Colin Cowherd and Chris Broussard and longtime NBA player Jamal Crawford, believe Clark is just going through the necessary adversity that someone heralded as a star often endures, such as NBA legends like Michael Jordan and LeBron James in the early portions of their careers.

Auriemma addressed that line of thinking, saying that while he understands the argument, he believes the treatment of Clark has crossed a line.

"I don't remember when Jordan came into the [NBA], guys looking to go out and beat him up," Auriemma said. "I don't remember when [Larry] Bird and Magic [Johnson] came in the league and elevated the NBA, them getting targeted and getting beat up just because of who they were and the attention they were getting.

I think you’re giving these people more credit for their “deep thoughts” than is deserved.

This is African American jealousy. Period. These women have been playing in this league for years (in some cases) and they have gotten empty arenas and low pay. Their endorsements have been minor.

They see themselves as athletes who have worked as hard as their male counterparts for years of AAU, High School, College and the pros—yet they get paid like crap.

Along comes the nice white girl and she gets all the attention. And money. She sucks the O2 out of every arena she walks into.

I understand the frustration.

But this is where they fail: They should have managers/agents who should sit them down and tell them to embrace this girl. If they want money...stand next to the woman who is getting money thrown at them...some of it will hit you.

If they want to be “rivals” make it a Larry Bird/Magic Johnson rivalry. Don’t be thugs, but elevate the game. It’s OK to talk trash, but when the game is over be a good sportsman.

This is all “theater.” You have to play too the crowds. These idiots’ egos are taking over their common sense. And they clearly do not have good people around them telling them what is the best thing for their careers, their wallets, and the legacy of the WNBA.

I still wouldn’t drive 45 minutes to a game.

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