Much of the conversation surrounding the WNBA over the last few days involves Indiana Fever rookie star Caitlin Clark and the hard shoulder block she received from Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter. This incident has sparked various opinions from players and analysts about what it means for the league and how it will impact Clark moving forward.
Matt Barnes’ Go At The Fever
Renowned commentator and former NBA player Matt Barnes criticized other Fever players for failing to stand up for their young teammate. Speaking about Clark’s rough rookie season, Barnes didn’t hold back his disappointment: I mean, throughout the season, she’s been getting beat up. Hard screens, elbows, knocked down. It is what it is; she’s not the first, she won’t be the last
, he stated. My question is, where are her teammates at? Where y’all at? Where’s the rest of the Indiana Fever? I’ve seen a couple of girls smirk when she got knocked down and half-assed picking her up. Y’all are supposed to protect the asset, protect the star.
Rough Rookie Season
While Caitlin has been putting up solid numbers with 15.1 points, 6.4 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game, she hasn’t been as efficient as during her historic NCAA run. Her shooting percentages have dropped significantly, hitting only 35 percent of her shots and just 29 percent from beyond the arc. Additionally, she’s drawn plenty of fouls this season, averaging 4.2 per game, leading to frustration.
The conversations exploded over the weekend when Chicago’s Chennedy Carter gave a shoulder shot to Clark that knocked her to the floor before an inbound pass during a Sky-Fever game.
A Known Enforcer Role
Barnes knows a thing or two about protecting teammates, having played as an enforcer in the NBA. Reflecting on his career, he said: I was someone who protected the stars. You f**k with Kobe, CP, Blake, the list goes on
. He understands that in basketball—or any team sport—having someone’s back is crucial.
This role isn’t new in basketball. Michael Jordan had Charles Oakley watching his back during his early years in the league. More recently, Stephen Curry always had Draymond Green to ensure he wasn’t bullied on the court.
Lack of Unity Hurting Team
Holding a 3-4 record, the Fever are near the bottom of the league standings. According to Barnes,It’s going to be a problem because you guys are supposed to be a family, and you wonder why you sit at the bottom of the league right now. It’s because y’all don’t protect each other.
Barnes emphasized that unity leads to success. The Fever need to find team cohesion quickly if they want to turn their season around.
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