WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark’s former coach has called for a major rule chance to protect her ex-star player.
Indiana Fever ace Clark, 23, has been established as one of the biggest stars in women’s basketball since being drafted from the Iowa Hawkeyes last year.
But her rise to prominence has led to various occasions when opponents were too rough with her on the court as they took too many liberties to stop her from racking up the points.
And the point guard’s former Iowa coach Lisa Bluder has had enough as she called for stricter rules.
Bluder, 64, spent 24 years with the Hawkeyes – four of which saw her coaching Clark.
The celebrated tactician continues to follow her former player’s progress and while she understands she is not intentionally “targeted,” she does think rivals are giving her their “best shot”.
That is why the ex-college basketball coach insists the most egregious acts need to lead to ejection from the game as well as hefty financial fines.
Bluder told TMZ: “They think that’s the way that they can stop her, is by physical dominance over her.
“It’s a part of the WNBA. It’s a part of the rules right now, and if we want that to change, I think we have to change the way the game is called.
“I think there needs to be more freedom of movement in our game.
“Which means, yes, calling more fouls, which people don’t like, but people will adjust. The players will adjust.
“If we start calling more fouls and emphasize the rules, the players will adjust, cause they want to be on the floor.”
This comes after a controversial incident that saw Clark getting shoved by Connecticut Sun ace Marina Mabrey.
The controversy was sparked as Jacy Sheldon guarded the Fever star and attempted to smother her.
In doing so, the Connecticut ace appeared to poke her rival in the eye and got in her face.
After Clark pushed her off, Mabrey came steaming in and violently shoved her to the ground, sparking a melee.
Somehow the Sun ace was not ejected but the Fever star was harshly handed a technical foul for her role in the incident – the WNBA subsequently accepted that the decision was incorrect.
