Indiana Fever head coach Christie Sides tried to strategize in the huddle before the final play, with her team trailing by one point against archrival Chicago Sky. However, Caitlin Clark, the star guard, appeared disinterested, shrugging her shoulders and walking away, seemingly giving up on winning the game.
Caitlin Clark Ignores Coach Before Final Shot
Fever fans were outraged. Some were displeased with Clark’s attitude, while others blamed Sides for squandering a 15-point lead. Many were also stunned by the Indiana defense’s failure to contain Angel Reese, who dominated with 25 points and 16 rebounds in the Sky’s 89-88 victory.
The trust and positive momentum from Indiana’s recent four-game win streak seemed to evaporate when Clark left the huddle as Sides was devising a potential game-winning play with 0.5 seconds left and the Fever down by one point.
The ESPN broadcast captured Sides questioning players about their assignments during the timeout. Clark responded by rolling her eyes, dramatically shrugging her shoulders, and appearing to say, “It doesn’t matter.”
Known for her intense competitiveness, Clark has had tense moments with teammates, referees, and coaches in the past. However, her commitment to winning was never questioned until now. Seeing Clark “give up” while her team still had a chance to secure a game-winning shot raised major concerns among fans, indicating deeper issues within the team.
