While Team USA convincingly beat the Czech Republic 105-64 in their final group stage game thanks to an overall team effort from head coach Kara Lawson’s side, it was Caitlin Clark who somehow got involved in the most bizarre moments of the game.
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With just under 3:30 left in the fourth quarter, Clark scored her first and only three-pointer of the game. This was also Clark’s only shot made from outside the arc in the past two games, as she also went 0-for-3 in the game against Italy. Clark’s shot extended it to 41 points. This is where cameras caught Jackie Young prompting Kahleah Copper to “clap” for Clark, who finally scored after many unsuccessful attempts.
Caitlin Clark ended the game with nine points and shot 1-for-6 from three, making this her only three-point make of the game. However, this brief moment seemingly caught fire on social media, as a section of Team USA fans were not thrilled over Clark’s teammates’ apparent lack of enthusiasm. However, many weren’t surprised, as they thought this was part of a larger pattern.
“This just reinforces what Caitlin’s fans have been saying for over 3 years. The W players hate on her & get away with ridiculous fouls on her…”
“I just don’t get WHY the teammates don’t act like a Team. For goodness sakes, they are representing the USA! Act like a teammate should. People have beaten her up, coach’s yell at her for not being good enough…”
The physicality that the fans referenced caused some serious controversy in the WNBA earlier this season. While fans were already complaining about the inconsistent officiating, things went out of hand when Phoenix Mercury’s Alyssa Thomas made contact with Clark’s throat in their June 24 game, and the referees missed it.
While they did assess that Thomas had committed a flagrant foul 2, the backlash against Thomas turned into life threats. While the dust eventually settled, many argued that Clark had been on the receiving end of too many hard fouls.
Meanwhile, other fans believed that many of the Team USA players hadn’t left their WNBA rivalry behind for the World Cup.
“It is petty, small, and exactly the kind of jealous energy that belongs in regular-season WNBA drama, not on the international stage where the only opponent is supposed to be the other flag. They all made the team. Act like it.”
“They need to cut it out, stop acting like children, you’re grown women, Jackie shouldn’t have to ask y’all to clap for Caitlin when she shoots a three SMDH.”
This is far from the first time fans have brought up the jealousy narrative when discussing Caitlin Clark.
This season, fans have speculated that Clark’s peers are not fond of the amount of spotlight she receives on a daily basis and how she is portrayed as the sole reason for the increase in WNBA viewership. Their doubts further increased when Clark was voted the eleventh-best guard in the league by players in the All-Star voting, while fans and even the media ranked her within the top-five.
Even WNBA icon Candace Parker was surprised at how low the players had ranked Clark in July. Meanwhile, podcaster Jaime Lardis also reshared the post, expressing his disapproval in the caption.
“I don’t know which is worse: Jackie Young telling Kahleah Copper, ‘You better clap,’ because she’s annoyed by the Caitlin Clark attention, or Kahleah genuinely not wanting to clap until she was told to. Either way, it just rubs me the wrong way.”
While Clark was unable to contribute much with her shooting in the past two games, she made up for it with her playmaking proficiency. Clark is also leading the team with assists. However, the incidents that have transpired throughout the WNBA regular season have made at least a section of the fanbase feel that a pattern of underappreciation exists for Clark.