It would seem that Caitlin Clark had one of her perfect games against the New York Liberty. With the second-most points in a game in her WNBA career, she scored 32 and assisted 9 along with 8 rebounds while leading the Indiana Fever to a dominating win over the New York Liberty. That show does not seem to satisfy some of the WNBA fans, as they have taken up an issue with Clark’s behaviour in this game.

A clip of Caitlin Clark being disappointed at not getting the ball during a play in the second quarter went viral. Clark missed a three, and Aliyah Boston got the rebound and handed it to Natasha Howard. Clark was consistently calling for the ball, but  Howard decided to take a contested shot from near the rim, which she made. The point guard looked exasperated and frustrated after not getting the ball. Kevin Fredericks, an award-winning comedian, criticised her frustration during this play and implied that she was a bad teammate. However, this national analyst has come out with a different take on the matter,  one that involves comparisons with many legends. 

Rachel de Mita said on her Courtside Club Podcast, “The greatest of the greats in any sport, whatever that may be, their competitive edge is second to none. They care about winning more than they care about anything, so on the court, you’re going to see emotion from them.”

Sports and emotion always go hand in hand, especially in high-pressure moments. While we cannot say for certain what caused Caitlin Clark’s visible frustration during that final play, Rachel DeMita offered a reasonable explanation in her video. She suggested the play may have been designed for Clark to take the last shot, but Natasha Howard went off script. Howard took a heavily contested shot over Isabelle Harrison, while Clark stood open on the perimeter. Given the circumstances, it is understandable why Clark may have felt disappointed.

If Howard had missed the shot, the narrative likely would have been different, with more focus on the decision-making rather than Clark’s reaction. Athletes naturally want the ball when they are performing well, and Clark had a strong first half. Coming back from injury, she was eager to make her mark and help her team win.

While such visible frustration is not ideal, it is a very human response, especially for a young player still finding her footing in the league. Clark is only in her second year in the WNBA and learning how to channel her competitive drive under intense scrutiny. De Mita further gave examples of legends who have shown the same intensity as Clark, if not worse. 

She said, “We’ve seen it from Jordan. We’ve seen it from Kobe, like Kobe has the reputation of being an actual a– on the court and sometimes to teammates, and he’s one of the greatest to ever play the game. We’ve seen this from LeBron, and we’ve also seen it from plenty of other WNBA players.”

The names mentioned by her have shown far worse on and off-court behaviour than Clark did in this case. Kobe once said regarding the 2005-06 Los Angeles Lakers’ apparent lack of talent, “I almost won an MVP with Smush Parker and Kwame Brown on my team…I was shooting 45 times a game. What was I supposed to do? Pass it to Chris Mihm or Kwame Brown?”

Kobe Bryant had a long-standing reputation for being blunt and demanding with his teammates, an attitude that was often met with mixed reactions. While some resented his approach, many admired him for it, recognizing that his relentless competitiveness was part of what made him one of the greatest to ever play the game. The same can be said for Michael Jordan and LeBron James. While perhaps not as intense as Kobe, both have had heated on-court moments. One of the most famous examples is when Jordan punched teammate Steve Kerr during practice after a disagreement. That confrontation did not damage their long-term relationship, but it serves as a reminder that even legends have emotionally charged moments.

This pattern holds true in the WNBA as well. Diana Taurasi, in particular, has had several incidents throughout her career that reflect a similar level of fire. In one game, she knocked down Ariel Atkins with enough force that Atkins had to sit out briefly. Renee Montgomery once remarked that Taurasi gave “half the league their welcome to the league moment,” referring to how her intense style immediately set a tone for younger players. In a more recent controversy, Brittney Griner was accused of using some offensive words towards Clark, which Griner has denied. 

Given this context, the current debate over Caitlin Clark’s body language during a single possession seems exaggerated. These types of emotional reactions are not new, nor are they unique to Clark. They are part of what we’ve long accepted and even celebrated in elite athletes, regardless of gender. Judging her by a different standard only distracts from the real focus: her performance, growth, and competitive spirit.

What Caitlin Clark Said To Get Her First Technical Of The Season

It was not only her body language that was criticised after that Liberty game, but also her attitude towards the referees. Well, Clark and the referees is not a new conversation. She has her history with them. The point guard even argued with the refs from the bench when she was out with an injury. Clark got on the court during halftime to have some heated conversations with the referees. She had 6 technicals last season, just 1 away from suspension, and since she has committed to limiting those to just 2 for the entire 2025 season. She received her first technical when she argued a no-call from the referees. 

Clark made a long pass to Sophie Cunningham that looked as if it was going to lead to a layup, and Liberty forward Kennedy Burke seemed to have blocked it illegally, and a foul call was anticipated. But it never came, and to make matters worse, the out-of-bounds was given against the Fever when it seemed to come off Burke. Even ESPN announcers said it was “an obvious foul that was missed.” Clark barged towards the referee, Biniam Maru, and said in frustration, “Are you f—— kidding me?”

For saying that, she immediately got her first technical and was well anticipated by Breanna Stewart, who made a call in the background simultaneously. They lost the challenge, which meant they would be without one for the rest of the game. The limit for this year’s technical fouls has been increased to 8 . Clark went towards the referee to ask for an explanation, and the one he gave wasn’t satisfactory to her, as she uttered a disappointed “wow” in a sign.

This series of moments has fueled a growing narrative around Caitlin Clark’s body language, but as we’ve explored, such behavior is far from unusual in elite sports. These are the kinds of emotional reactions that often mark the early stages of a player’s journey from rookie to seasoned veteran. With time and experience, Clark will learn to channel her passion more effectively, finding ways to lead and assert herself without letting frustration spill over.