'People’s Brains Need To Be Studied': Caitlin Clark’s Meteoric Rise Gets Analyst Questioning Her WNBA Peers Hate Towards Fever Star

Since entering the league with record-breaking hype, Clark has been subjected to everything from hard fouls to subtle shade and blatant gatekeeping. While much of the hate is disguised as “rookie hazing” or “earning respect,” many analysts, fans, and even former pros believe the criticism has crossed a line.

Caitlin Clark has become the face of the league. She’s the reason arenas are packed, TV ratings are climbing, and casual fans are finally paying attention to the WNBA. Despite that, some in the league seem more focused on resisting her rise than embracing the attention she brings. Whether it’s discomfort with the spotlight she gets or frustration with the media noise around her, the pushback is getting harder to defend.

What makes it even more surprising is how Clark responds. She stays quiet, sticks to the grind, and absorbs every hit—both physical and verbal—without fuss. Her calm approach hasn’t gone unnoticed, but the cold treatment from some veterans has sparked a bigger question: what kind of league does the WNBA want to be?

And now that the All-Star break has arrived, many are wondering: is the hate going to slow down—or will the league’s brightest rising star need to keep carrying that chip on her shoulder just to survive?

Caitlin Clark Gets Backing from Paige Bueckers: “The Pressure Is Inhumane”

Amid the noise surrounding Caitlin Clark, one voice offered support—and it came from someone who understands the weight of expectations.

“She handles it with grace, the pressure she’s put on every single night to perform at the level that she does. It’s inhumane, really, to expect people to be perfect.”— Paige Bueckers

Bueckers, who’s expected to join the WNBA next season, has watched Clark’s journey unfold under an intense spotlight. Like Clark, Bueckers was once dubbed “the future of women’s basketball.” And she knows that hype comes with a price.

Her comments echoed what many fans have said but few players have voiced: that Clark’s nightly burden is heavier than most realize. Between media obligations, sky-high fan expectations, and navigating a physical league, Clark has had little room to simply be a rookie.

In a league craving growth and star power, Bueckers’ empathy highlights a simple truth—greatness doesn’t mean invincibility. And even game-changers like Caitlin Clark deserve space to breathe.