Fever coach unloads on WNBA over treatment of Caitlin Clark, but it's time for Clark to start punching back

The Caitlin Clark nonsense in the WNBA has officially spiraled out of control.

It's been percolating for two years now, and it finally reached a boiling point Wednesday night when Clark was shoved to the floor, punched in the throat and stepped on.

That's not hyperbole, by the way. That's what happened. It was absurd. It was disgusting. It was, clearly, intentional.

Unbelievably, there was no whistle. No foul called. Nothing from the officials. Crickets.

The Fever lost, 111-109. Clark eventually exited the game with a back injury. No word on if it was related to the mugging earlier in the game, but that's probably not a giant leap to make.

CAITLIN CLARK SHOVED IN NECK DURING FEVER GAME AS ANOTHER APPARENT FOUL ON STAR GOES UNCALLED

Regardless, it's clear, now, that Clark is being targeted by her WNBA peers. Fever fans have been screaming about it for years, but it's undeniable at this point.

What's also undeniable is this: If the WNBA won't defend Clark, it's time for her to defend herself.

It's time for her to start punching back.

This feels like a turning point. We've seen Caitlin Clark targeted before, but nothing like what we saw Wednesday night.

The narrative has been out there, but there's never been the real smoking gun. Sure, we almost had it last summer when Sophie Cunningham jumped in and defended Clark, but nothing as egregious as what fans saw last night.

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At this point, the time for talking is over. The case is closed. We're past debating whether or not Clark is being targeted by the rest of the league. She is, and if the refs don't have the stones to get involved, she needs to take matters into her own hands.

Fever head coach Stephanie White, to her credit, unloaded on the refs — and the WNBA — after the loss.

"Absolutely disrespectful. We have a generational talent and a WNBA superstar who had two cheap shots right there that weren’t called," she said. "It's absolutely egregious, and utterly disrespectful. [Clark] is not called the same way as everybody else is called. The fist in the throat is crazy. It's crazy. It's dangerous."

White has been under the microscope all season for her treatment of Clark. Fever fans have long believed they don't exactly get along.

For White to make those comments tells you everything you need to know.

She wasn't alone.

"Caitlin Clark and every WNBA player should be protected from this targeted behavior," former NFL QB Robert Griffin III said in a social media post.

"Tonight was a pivotal moment in Caitlin Clark’s season and career. It’s time the league takes notice and adjusts. It impacts a franchise," added former WNBA player and NFL reporter Stacey Dales.

Words are one thing. Actions are another. The WNBA has proven time and time again that it doesn't care. Caitlin Clark is a walking target for the league. It's all a game to the league.

Don't believe me? Take a look at what the Phoenix Mercury posted last night:

You see? They're not even trying to hide it anymore. Frankly, I'm not sure they ever have. The difference, now, though?

Now they're just openly mocking Caitlin Clark, and it's time for her to do something about it. Not Stephanie White. Not Sophie Cunningham. Not RGIII or Stacey Dales or OutKick.

Caitlin Clark.

The time for talking is over. The rest of the league has taken its gloves off.

It's time for its biggest star to do the same.