Chris Evert Slams WNBA After Latest Caitlin Clark Incident; Sophie Cunningham Fined $400 for Flagrant Foul

Tennis legend Chris Evert is once again making headlines — this time for taking a stand in defense of Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark, who was involved in another on-court altercation that has reignited debate over sportsmanship and player safety in the WNBA.

Following a heated matchup between the Indiana Fever and the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday night, Evert took to X to blast the league and its players for what she called a “bad look for the sport.”

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

On-Court Chaos

The incident unfolded during the Fever’s 89–84 win over the Sun in Indianapolis. Clark, already no stranger to hard fouls and extra contact this season, was poked in the eye and later shoved to the floor during a physical second half. The game spiraled into a series of technical and flagrant fouls that ended with two player ejections.

Clark, along with Connecticut’s Marina Mabrey and Tina Charles, received technical fouls. The Sun’s rookie Jacy Sheldon was hit with a flagrant foul penalty 1 for a particularly rough play on Clark. Moments later, Fever guard Sophie Cunningham retaliated with a hard foul on Sheldon, resulting in a flagrant foul penalty 2 — an automatic ejection. Sheldon was also ejected for her role.

On Wednesday, the WNBA announced Cunningham was fined $400 for her flagrant foul, adding to the controversy surrounding how the league handles discipline and player protection — particularly when it involves Clark.

“Terrible Optics,” Say Commentators

Evert wasn’t the only high-profile voice calling out the WNBA. Longtime columnist Christine Brennan wrote, “The WNBA continues to fail to meet the moment. Terrible decision to allow Marina Mabrey to stay in the game. People are watching as never before. And this is what they see?”

Fans, players, and sports commentators have repeatedly accused WNBA officials of failing to protect Clark, who has taken a beating in her debut season despite being the most-watched and talked-about athlete in women’s basketball.

Fever Coach Left in the Dark

Fever head coach Stephanie White expressed confusion after the game, telling reporters she received no explanation from officials regarding the technical foul assessed to Clark. “They’re supposed to protect players, not penalize them for reacting to getting hit in the face,” one Fever fan wrote on social media.

Crew chief Ashley Gross later told reporters that Clark was penalized for “unsportsmanlike conduct” after Sheldon’s foul, though many believe Clark was simply reacting to getting poked in the eye.

Not the First Incident

Tuesday’s incident is just the latest in what appears to be an ongoing trend. Earlier this season, Clark was on the receiving end of a hip-check-style foul by Chicago Sky’s Chennedy Carter, which sparked similar outrage — and a meager $1,000 fine.

Clark’s record-breaking college career and huge fan base have turned her into the league’s biggest draw, but also, some argue, a target.

“She’s elevating the entire league,” Chris Evert said in a follow-up post, “and yet some seem more interested in taking her down than lifting up the game.”

Support from a Teammate

Despite her ejection and fine, Sophie Cunningham has received praise from some fans for defending her teammate. On social media, clips of Cunningham standing up for Clark have gone viral, with many calling her the “enforcer” the Fever needs.

“Cunningham did what any teammate should do — she sent a message,” one user posted on X.

Jim Banks Calls for Accountability

Indiana Senator Jim Banks also weighed in, calling on both the Fever and the WNBA to “apologize to fans” for allowing such hostile conduct to dominate the headlines instead of the game.

Speaking on OutKick’s Don’t @ Me with Dan Dakich, Banks said, “This isn’t just about one player. It’s about a league that can’t seem to manage its own image during a moment of historic exposure.”

Is the League Protecting Its Star?

The league’s handling of Clark — both her protection on the court and how she’s marketed off it — has sparked heated debate. Some believe she’s being unfairly targeted, while others argue she’s simply facing the physical nature of professional play.

Still, tennis great Chris Evert isn’t buying the excuse.

“Sportsmanship matters,” she said. “And what I’m seeing isn’t it.”