Christie Sides and Caitlin Clark on courtChristie Sides and Caitlin Clark (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)


WNBA fans have already had enough of Indiana Fever head coach Christie Sides and her decision making with Caitlin Clark.

In a battle of the one-win teams on Tuesday, Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever faced off against Cameron Brink and the Los Angeles Sparks. Christie Sides, the coach of the Indiana Fever, is facing criticism once more for the manner she handled Caitlin Clark’s playing time.

Last Friday, in Los Angeles, Clark and the Fever defeated the Sparks for the first time in the 2024 WNBA season. They hoped to win again against the same team, but it did not work out this time.

In the latter minutes of the third quarter, with Indiana leading by four points, Christie Sides, the coach of the Fever, made the decision to take Clark out of the game. Clark was benched for barely three minutes as the Sparks went on an 11-0 run to take the lead. Many WNBA supporters urged that the team remove Sides because they were unhappy with her decision to exclude Clark from the game.

Also Read: Shocking Photo Shows Las Vegas Aces Player Grabbing Caitlin Clark By The Throat And Ripping Her To The Floor During Brutal Foul In The Paint

As Indiana fell to 1-7 on the season, Clark scored a career-high 30 points to go along with six assists, five rebounds, three steals and three blocks, via ESPN.com.

Christie Sides Has Made the Poor Decision Of Benching Caitlin Clark Once Before

Head coach Christie Sides encourages Caitlin Clark (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
This is hardly the first time that Christie Sides has made a questionable decision regarding Caitlin Clark.

In a previous game against the Seattle Storm, Clark had only scored five points in the first half. However, in the third quarter, she was on fire, making two 3-pointers on her way to nine points. With Clark on the court, the Fever overcame an 11-point deficit against the Storm. And yet, with five minutes left in the fourth quarter, Sides benched the top draft choice. That proved to be a very costly error.

When Clark returned to the game, the Fever were seven points behind. Despite her best efforts, she was unable to urge her squad to victory.

Cavinder Twins Didn’t Hold Back While Revealing Their Thoughts On Caitlin Clark

Caitlin Clark on court. Cavinder Twins posing.Caitlin Clark and Cavinder Twins (Photo via Getty Images)
University of Miami women’s basketball stars Haley and Hanna Cavinder joined OutKick‘s “Hot Mic” to talk about Caitlin Clark’s impact on women’s basketball.

After the Indiana Fever selected former Iowa standout Caitlin Clark with the first overall pick in last month’s draft, there has been much discussion over her influence on the WNBA and the development of women’s basketball.

The answer to Haley and Hanna Cavinder is pretty clear, and no debate is necessary.

Haley Cavinder spoke highly of Clark, saying she’s a player that only comes around once in a generation.

“I think Caitlin Clark is a once-in-a-lifetime player,” Cavinder said. “What she’s done for the game over the last year is insanely good for women’s basketball, such as the viewership and revenue. People are way more intrigued by it. You can tell by the March Madness viewership.

“What she’s done as a whole – everybody will miss her. She’s fun to watch.”

“She’s fun to watch. Everyone wants to watch her,” Haley continued.

“I think she’s amazing, and that’s why people want to watch. And that’s what grows the game. Even going into the women’s NBA, I don’t think I’ve ever watched women’s NBA more because Caitlin Clark’s in that league. I think what she’s doing for the game is great for women’s basketball.”

The Indiana Fever’s rising star, Clark, has captured fans with her unmatched skill and charisma on the court. She has also revived interest in women’s basketball around the country.

Some people have questioned Caitlin Clark’s WNBA ascent. A’ja Wilson, a star for the Las Vegas Aces, reportedly implied that race had a big part in Clark’s appeal. Later, Becky Hammon, Wilson’s coach, ordered the media to “knock it off” in regards to the racial storyline but later explained that her remarks were being “misconstrued.”

Since 2001, the most watched WNBA game was Clark’s professional debut with the Indiana Fever. That followed her being the star of the last three games of Iowa’s most recent March Madness tournament—three of the four most-watched women’s NCAA tournaments ever.

Caitlin Clark Signs Multiyear Deal With Wilson Sporting Goods

Caitlin Clark (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
Clark agreed to a multiyear contract with Wilson Sporting Goods in May in order to create a trademark basketball line, per The AP. In addition, the top choice in the WNBA draft will evaluate, counsel, and offer comments on a variety of Wilson basketball equipment.