One of the biggest talking points throughout Caitlin Clark’s WNBA career thus far has been about how fellow players around the league have tried their best to knock her off her game with physicality that borders on dirty play. And while Lisa Bluder, Clark’s former coach at Iowa, doesn’t believe opposing players are trying to injure Clark, she does believe that the WNBA should be better protecting Clark.
In a recent interview with TMZ, Bluder discussed some of Clark’s recent run-ins with players trying to impose their will physically in games against her, explaining that nothing will change in her eyes until play is called differently by officials in the WNBA.
“It’s a part of the WNBA. It’s a part of the rules right now, and if we want that to change, I think we have to change the way the game is called,” Bluder said. “I think there needs to be more freedom of movement in our game. Which means, yes, calling more fouls, which people don’t like, but people will adjust. The players will adjust. If we start calling more fouls and emphasize the rules, the players will adjust, ’cause they want to be on the floor.”
Bluder’s comments certainly ring home after Clark’s most recent matchup against the Connecticut Sun, where Clark could be seen getting slammed to the ground without any call being made.
BREAKING: Caitlin Clark is fouled hard and then pushed to the ground.
Do you think the WNBA star is being targeted? pic.twitter.com/7Dj2usZBiG
— TaraBull (@TaraBull808) June 18, 2025
Clark has shown that she can handle anything coming towards her. But given the fact that Clark is undoubtedly the most popular star in the sport, it wouldn’t be much of a shock if we do see some of the obvious fouls against her get called more moving forward.
About Reice Shipley
Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.