Chris Evert Blasts WNBA Over Latest Caitlin Clark Clash: “What Happened to Sportsmanship?”

Tennis icon Chris Evert is speaking out after another physical skirmish involving Caitlin Clark — and this time, she’s calling on the WNBA to take a long look in the mirror.

In a fiery post on social media, Evert criticized the league and its players following an incident during Tuesday night’s game between the Indiana Fever and the Connecticut Sun, where Clark was poked in the eye and later shoved to the ground amid a series of escalating fouls and confrontations.

“When will these ladies realize, accept, and appreciate @CaitlinClark22 is the best thing that ever happened to women’s basketball?” Evert wrote on X. “This is a bad look for the sport and what’s happened to sportsmanship?”

Her remarks follow a chaotic evening in Indianapolis that saw multiple players penalized in a game that devolved into a battle of tempers and bruises rather than basketball finesse. Clark, along with Sun players Marina Mabrey and Tina Charles, received technical fouls, while Connecticut’s Jacy Sheldon was assessed a flagrant foul for a physical play that left Clark on the floor. Fever guard Sophie Cunningham was later ejected along with Sheldon after retaliating with a hard foul of her own in the final minute of the game.

“A Bad Look for the Sport”

Evert’s comments were prompted by a post from sports columnist Christine Brennan, who has been an outspoken advocate for Clark and is set to release a book about the rising WNBA star next month.

“The WNBA continues to fail to meet the moment. Terrible decision to allow Marina Mabrey to stay in the game,” Brennan posted. “People are watching as never before. And this is what they see?”

Indeed, Tuesday’s game was the latest in a string of highly publicized incidents in which Clark has found herself on the receiving end of excessive physicality. Last year, Clark was also poked in the eye during a game against the same team — the Connecticut Sun — raising questions about whether the WNBA is doing enough to protect one of its most marketable and watched athletes.

Officials Under Scrutiny

Following the game, Fever head coach Stephanie White voiced her frustration with the officiating, saying she received no clear explanation for the technical foul issued to Clark, who was visibly shaken after the hit but remained in the game.

Crew chief Ashley Gross told a pool reporter that Clark was penalized for “unsportsmanlike conduct” after the initial foul committed by Sheldon. But critics, including Evert and many on social media, suggested that the punishment was unfair given the context — Clark had just been hit in the face.

Fans across social platforms echoed the tennis star’s concerns, questioning why Clark seems to be targeted repeatedly without sufficient response from league officials.

A Pattern of Rough Play?

Clark’s arrival in the WNBA has been nothing short of seismic. The rookie sensation has shattered viewership records, elevated attendance numbers, and brought unprecedented attention to women’s professional basketball. But with that attention has come a disturbing pattern of rough play, aggressive fouls, and — some argue — targeted hostility.

“It’s not just competitiveness. This feels personal,” one fan wrote on X, reacting to the footage of Clark getting shoved. “You don’t treat your league’s biggest star like that unless you’re trying to send a message.”

Others questioned whether envy or resentment might be at play, as Clark has quickly become a household name, often overshadowing veteran players who have spent years building the league’s foundation.

Sophie Cunningham: Defender or Avenger?

In the aftermath of Tuesday’s melee, Fever guard Sophie Cunningham has drawn both praise and criticism for her response to Sheldon’s foul on Clark. Her hard foul on Sheldon — which led to both players being ejected — was seen by some as standing up for her teammate, while others viewed it as a dangerous escalation.

Regardless of perspective, the incident has further intensified calls for the WNBA to better protect its players and manage emotions during high-stakes matchups.

Senator Jim Banks Also Weighs In

Even lawmakers are now chiming in. Republican Senator Jim Banks of Indiana called on the WNBA and the Indiana Fever to apologize to fans for what he described as a pattern of “unchecked aggression” toward Clark. During an appearance on OutKick’s Don’t @ Me with Dan Dakich, Banks said, “The league is failing to meet the moment. This is supposed to be a celebration of elite women’s basketball — not a grudge match every week.”

The WNBA’s Caitlin Clark Dilemma

Clark’s rapid rise has presented both an opportunity and a challenge for the WNBA. While her presence has undeniably boosted the league’s profile, it has also exposed cracks in how the league handles intense media scrutiny, player relations, and disciplinary standards.

“She’s not asking for special treatment,” one former WNBA player told Fox News Digital, speaking anonymously. “She just wants the same protection and respect every elite athlete deserves.”

As the season continues and the spotlight on Clark only grows brighter, the WNBA may soon have to answer the very question Chris Evert posed: What happened to sportsmanship?