“The players have always been at a much higher level than most of the staff.” When Megan Rapinoe dropped the statement, it was casualty wrapped in concern. While the league’s growing fanbase is pushing the W into delivering with tighter schedules, it is the inconsistent officiating issues that command greater attention. While most referees see the WNBA as a stepping stone in their careers, it is the players that bear the brunt.
And the classic example of this suffering is none other than Caitlin Clark. Known for talking back to the refs, the Indiana Fever player has faced her share of troubles against the officials. This usually stems from issues surrounding the WNBA staff that changes each year. Having said that, Clark’s rookie journey in the pros wasn’t a smooth road either.
Moreover, national analyst and ex-Los Angeles Sparks athlete
Chiney Ogwumike said on A Touch More podcast’s latest episode, “
What I will say is great players adapt. And a lot of people started witnessing that last year with Caitlin Clark,” Ogwumike began. “
People had so many narratives of the physicality with her, but she adapted and she had the best, the strongest second half of the season last year.“
She highlighted Clark’s rookie run to hint at underlying issues in the W.
Struggling massively with physicality issues from opposing teams, the athlete was largely blamed for losing her momentum as the season began. Not to forget, these issues cropped up in the form of turnovers during her earliest games last year.
“Another good example of this is A’ja Wilson. We know this. When she came into league balling, everyone knew that left-handed jumper, her arm would come forward,” Ogwumike explained. “So, we’d all be found on her ‘cuz it was like her shooting motion wasn’t like this. It would sort of come up this way and we’d fall into the trap.” Caitlin Clark and A’ja Wilson seem to highlight the league’s reigning loopholes.
Chiney Ogwumike further described Wilson’s scoring stance that became a talk of the town. While the Aces player unintentionally brought her left hand up every time she catered to a jump shot, the move was enough to provoke the refs and audiences alike. And as a result, the opposing player would end up with a string of fouls under her belt.
“But there became a point where people were like, why is A’ja not happy with the foul calls? Because people stopped calling it, because people started scouting that accordingly,” the analyst said. “And she adapted and became the first WBA thousand point scorer. So, there’s natural ebbs and flows with the game on both sides. And I think the greatest players learn how to not milk it, but just adapt their game to what whatever is necessary.”
But after Wilson changed her gameplay in accordance with the ref demands, the game became easier for her. Moreover, Wilson even went on to become the first W player to score a whopping 1000 points in a season. Praising Clark and Wilson for their ability to adapt, Ogwumike pointed out that players need to keep switching their gameplay in order to remain relevant and avoid negative attention.
With new staff coming in every year, this means new challenges for the existing players. While the officials do inform teams of the league’s rule changes and how the referees plan on officiating, the inconsistencies have seeped into the veins of the league, marking it a crucial factor that differentiates the W from its men’s counterpart. After all, this flawed structure of the WNBA is here to stay. And only those who adapt with time make it to the history books.
Caitlin Clark reacts after an on-court mishap
The Indiana Fever superstar, Caitlin Clark, returned to the hardwood with a bang! Literally. After being sidelined for the second time this season owing to a left groin injury, the sophomore athlete appeared against the Golden State Valkyries on July 09, 2025. While the Fever suffered a crushing 80-61 blow at the hands of the evenly-matched team, not all was well in paradise for Clark.
Jun 19, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) argues with referee Amy Bonner (31) during the second quarter against the Golden State Valkyries at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
The point guard had an injury scare in the first quarter itself. After receiving an inbound pass from rookie Makayla Timpson, Caitlin Clark set out to score when she was defended by Valkyries’ Tiffany Hayes. In a bid to secure possession of the ball, Clark shoved Hayes’ hand away, only to falter.
Unable to balance her body, Clark slipped and fell on the floor as a dazed Hayes looked on. But by the time her teammates and Hayes reached out, Clark already had the situation under control. Within a fraction of slipping, Clark outstretched her hand, pulled the ball and turned over to secure the possession.
While she stood on her feet, Clark was unhappy about the whole scenario. She could be seen involved in a heated confrontation with one of the referees. A visibly frustrated Clark felt that the situation called for a foul. However, no action from the referees ignited a sense of rage in the reigning rookie. This further affected her performance as she added 11 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists to the roster.
Despite an unexpected loss against the Valkyries, the Fever rose again and snatched their 10th win from the second-highest team in the Eastern Conference standings. Now, as Indiana Fever prepares to welcome the Dallas Wings in a much-anticipated showdown on Sunday, Caitlin Clark & Co. cannot afford a loss if they wish to win the W title this season.
The post Caitlin Clark Likened to A’ja Wilson in Ex-Spark Star’s Bold WNBA Call Out appeared first on EssentiallySports.
