The WNBA has a new villain, and her name is Caitlin Clark — at least in the eyes of Golden State Valkyries fans. The expansion team's faithful turned the Chase Center into a hostile environment for the Indiana Fever star, making it clear they're not rolling out the red carpet for the league's most hyped rookie.
Video circulated widely this week showing Valkyries supporters raining boos on Clark whenever she touched the ball. One fan even held up a sign reading "Cry Baby Clark," a move that quickly went viral on social media. The moment captured a growing sentiment among some WNBA fanbases who are tired of the nonstop attention surrounding the former No. 1 pick.
Boos and banners in the Bay
Joseph Dycus of Mercury News captured the atmosphere, tweeting, "The Valkyries crowd is booing the hell out of Caitlin Clark every time she touches the ball. Every game is a home game for the Fever? Not in the Bay Area." The video showed Clark being serenaded with jeers from the moment she stepped on the court.
The fan response online was mixed. Some defended the booing as standard sports etiquette. "I love it. The away team should always get booed," one person commented. "That is normal sports." Others argued that the treatment goes beyond typical rivalry. "Anyone who thought every game would be a home game, clearly, underestimated the fact that hardcore fanbases don’t like people being shoved down their throats," another fan wrote. "She hasn’t lived up to the hype, every one of their games is on national tv and it’s starting to become glaring."
Still, some saw the backlash as a sign of Clark's star power. "So CC makes every team's game THE game to be at. Got it," a supporter countered.
Criticism piles up
The booing is just the latest chapter in a noisy week for Clark. Earlier, former ESPN host Cari Champion called out the rookie for what she described as entitled behavior. "The way that you behave, this entitlement, the way you are talking to your coaches… you enjoy that. So if that’s what you enjoy, if you want to be the villain, if you want to be the tough person … then let it be," Champion said in a segment that also included accusations of special treatment. "Because we’re coming at you the same way we could come at anyone else. And her fans need to recognize that. Like, she chooses that behavior."
Clark hasn't publicly addressed the criticism, but the tension is palpable. The Fever's next game is Saturday against the Portland Fire, and all eyes will be on how she responds.
The episode has also sparked broader conversations about Clark's on-court demeanor and whether the scrutiny is fair. Some argue that the backlash is part of being a superstar, while others believe it's rooted in resentment over her media coverage.
Whether Clark embraces the villain role or tries to win over the doubters, one thing is clear: she's not going unnoticed. The Valkyries fans made sure of that.
