Caitlin Clark has carried her heavy crown well as she continues her WNBA journey. Respectful, accountability, are just some of the traits that have defined her over the course of her stardom since Iowa. Yet, one thing where the point guard is known to lose control is always the hardwood. While the passion is mostly encouraged, too much of it can shine a brutal reality that maybe she is also running away from, at least that’s what analyst Jason Whitlock believes.

“She tried to draw a foul. There was no foul, and then you turn to the refs and yell and scream at them like they’ve done something wrong. This has been going on her entire career in the WNBA,” Whitlock said. “I’ve been pointing it out. Her dad’s been pointing it out.

“People that care about her have been pointing it out. Hey, (Caitlin), love you to death, but control yourself. Find a better way to channel your energy, and I am sympathetic. I do think this is a mental health issue.

“The Caitlin cult, which I’m a part of, and I know many of you think I’m a sellout, and you’re upset that I’m saying this. Caitlin Clark behaves poorly on the court, and I’m sympathetic, but she clearly has some mental issues.”

See, his criticism doesn’t come from a single possession, because there have been many instances where Clark has been visibly frustrated when calls don’t go her way. Take this very game, for example, in the second half itself, there were at least two times when Clark wanted a call made but never got one.

Even last year, during a heated game against the Connecticut Sun, she had an animated exchange with referee Mike Price after a disputed call. The situation became almost so intense that she had to be pulled away by members of the Fever staff. That wasn’t all. And we, Clark fans, cannot disagree.

Clark’s frustration with the Valkyries was impossible to miss. The Fever star repeatedly showed her displeasure with officiating throughout the physical night as Indiana struggled to find its rhythm.

The Night Nothing Came Easy for Caitlin Clark

Despite adding another historic achievement to her résumé as she became the fastest player to reach 1000 points and 500 assists in WNBA, Clark walked away from Thursday’s matchup with far more frustration than celebration.

The Valkyries’ defense made her life difficult from the opening tip, knowing that the offense in Indy runs through her.

By the end of the night, she finished with 16 points. While it was still a team-high, her 3-of-12 shooting from the field and 2-of-6 from beyond the arc became a glaring hole. It doesn’t end there because Clark also committed five turnovers, and her six assists, too, did not come without a challenge. One thing, however, that improved overall was her defense. She had three steals too while picking up four fouls in the 90-88 loss.

However, it is worth noting that the Indiana Fever still has reasons to be optimistic. The loss was frustrating, but it also highlighted how competitive Indiana remains even when its biggest stars are not at their best.

All three of the Fever’s losses this season have come by a combined seven points, and each game was still within reach in the closing moments. Against Golden State, they nearly stole a road win.

The Valkyries currently boast one of the league’s toughest defenses, and their combination of length, athleticism, and physicality has created problems for opponents all season. Yet Indiana still found itself one possession away from overtime, a pattern that ran throughout the night.

So, for now, the Fever will likely view the loss as a missed opportunity rather than a warning sign.