Latest news with #Clark
San Francisco Chronicle
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Caitlin Clark ‘brought us back to the WNBA' say fans packing Chase Center to see Valkyries
From Stockton to Oregon, fans flocked from across the West Coast to come to San Francisco and watch Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever play the Golden State Valkyries in Chase Center for the very first time. And making no apologies, many in attendance, while harboring enormous pride in the Bay Area's expansion team, came for Clark. Mary Barker, who was a fan of the Sacramento Monarchs before that WNBA team ceased operations in 2009, was thrilled to cheer on the expansion team. Barker was dressed to the nines in Valkyries gear, beaming about the team to a group of tourists outside of Chase Center before the game. 'I'm definitely going for the Valkyries to win, but I love Caitlin Clark too,' Barker said. 'But of course, you want it to be good, wholesome basketball, no drama. Just everybody go out and compete and (have) good sportsmanship. But I'll be going Valkyries all the way.' That sort of talk was music to head coach Natalie Nakase, who said before her team's 88-77 win over Indiana, 'Our fans are kind of like our superpower in way. They really know when to scream, when to holler, and as soon as that ball gets thrown up, they jump from the start. And they're always cheering until the very end. So I'm going to call them our superpower.' One married Sacramento couple who, like Barker, are Monarchs-turned-Valkyries fans, were thrilled to be at Chase to support Clark. Both women watched Clark play basketball at Iowa and were proudly wearing Fever jerseys with Clark's No. 22. 'We have season tickets (for the Valkyries), but we're representing Clark because she's the one that brought us back to the WNBA, to be quite honest,' one of the women said. 'But we're obviously Valkyries fans as well. So excited to be here.' Fans were not shy to compare Clark to NBA legends Michael Jordan and Stephen Curry, who often draws a lot of physical defense on the court. Many fans at Chase Center, here for Clark or not, had mixed reactions on the subject of what she faces on the court. 'I don't know how the WNBA lets it go on, how (players are) bullying her. She's done nothing but good for the league. They're all flying charter (planes) this year because of her,' said John Kosich of Stockton. Kosich attended the game after his kids bought him a Clark jersey and a pair of tickets to the game for Father's Day. 'The league was worth $90 million last year, now it's $360 (million). I mean, come on, you got to protect her. That's the golden goose.' But what some fans say is bullying, others are adamant that the physicality is intrinsic to competitive basketball, rather than detracting from it. 'Is she getting targeted? Who knows,' said Bridget C., a Clark fan who came to Chase Center to watch her first-ever WNBA game. 'But you deal with that as you go right, like, it's part of learning how to play in the pros.' Questions surrounding Clark's treatment by opposing players, including the controversy over the audio-less clip captured by ESPN of Atlanta Dream center Brittney Griner, came up repeatedly in conversations at Chase Center. Some fans speculated Griner called Clark 'F—ing white girl,' while others said they believed that conclusion was a ploy for headlines. Griner herself says that she was making a comment about the referee's call, and didn't say anything about Clark at all. 'I don't know if it's a race thing, but Griner, well, she's lucky she's not in Russia. Let's just say that,' said Kosich. 'I mean, we all could read her lips … but it's like, why don't you just appreciate what she brought to the league and let it go?' Barker had a less strong opinion on the matter, chalking it up to the legions of fans Clark brings to the league. 'I really don't see it as a race thing, I try not to look at it that way. But I think what it is, is you got a player that came in and made such a huge impact on the game,' Barker said. Mostly, Barker said she was excited about the entertainment Clark brings to the court, and to be at a packed Chase Center for the game. While many at Chase Center were thrilled to watch Clark in action, one Clark fan named Kyle S. said in jest that he was in attendance to 'make sure (Clark) wasn't AI.' And at least one pair of proud parents wasn't in attendance for Clark at all. Lewis and Merteen Thornton, parents of Valkyries forward Kayla Thornton said about the team playing Indiana, '(It means) nothing, nothing at all. It means that we're going to support the Valks … playing (Clark) doesn't mean (anything) to us, because she's just another player.'
Toronto Star
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Toronto Star
Wyndham Clark says he ‘deeply regrets' damaging his Oakmont locker during the US Open
CROMWELL, Conn. (AP) — Former U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark said he 'deeply regrets' the damage done to the century-old locker he was using at Oakmont during the U.S. Open, his second act of frustration that caused damage at a major this year. Reports surfaced over the weekend that Clark damaged his locker. The USGA said only that it works directly with players and their managers when it comes to player conduct.
The Advertiser
6 hours ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Major winner 'very sorry' for damaging Oakmont lockers
Wyndham Clark has delivered an apology for damaging Oakmont Country Club lockers in anger last week at the US Open. Clark missed the cut at the third major championship of the season, going 74-74 (eight over par) through two rounds. On Saturday, social media posts from golf podcaster Todd "Tron Carter" Schuster of "No Laying Up" showed photos he obtained from the Oakmont locker room. Two of the lockers' doors were seriously damaged, with Schuster connecting it to Clark. Oakmont officials later confirmed Clark's locker had been damaged. Clark was asked about the incident Thursday at the Travelers Championship after he opened with a six-under 64. "Yeah, I mean, I've had a lot of highs and lows in my career, especially this year some lows," Clark said. "I made a mistake that I deeply regret. I'm very sorry for what happened." "But I'd also like to move on, not only for myself but for Oakmont, for the USGA, and kind of focus on the rest of this year and things that come up. "I still want to try to make the Ryder Cup team. I still am on the outside looking in for the FedEx Cup. So I'm starting to move on and focus on those things." Clark did not comment further on the matter. It was not known whether he had apologised directly to Oakmont. It was the second straight major where Clark, the 2023 US Open champion, had to apologise for aggressive behaviour. At the PGA Championship in May, following a poor drive, Clark threw his driver toward the back of the tee box. It crashed into signage with a volunteer standing mere feet away, and the head of the club snapped off. Wyndham Clark has delivered an apology for damaging Oakmont Country Club lockers in anger last week at the US Open. Clark missed the cut at the third major championship of the season, going 74-74 (eight over par) through two rounds. On Saturday, social media posts from golf podcaster Todd "Tron Carter" Schuster of "No Laying Up" showed photos he obtained from the Oakmont locker room. Two of the lockers' doors were seriously damaged, with Schuster connecting it to Clark. Oakmont officials later confirmed Clark's locker had been damaged. Clark was asked about the incident Thursday at the Travelers Championship after he opened with a six-under 64. "Yeah, I mean, I've had a lot of highs and lows in my career, especially this year some lows," Clark said. "I made a mistake that I deeply regret. I'm very sorry for what happened." "But I'd also like to move on, not only for myself but for Oakmont, for the USGA, and kind of focus on the rest of this year and things that come up. "I still want to try to make the Ryder Cup team. I still am on the outside looking in for the FedEx Cup. So I'm starting to move on and focus on those things." Clark did not comment further on the matter. It was not known whether he had apologised directly to Oakmont. It was the second straight major where Clark, the 2023 US Open champion, had to apologise for aggressive behaviour. At the PGA Championship in May, following a poor drive, Clark threw his driver toward the back of the tee box. It crashed into signage with a volunteer standing mere feet away, and the head of the club snapped off. Wyndham Clark has delivered an apology for damaging Oakmont Country Club lockers in anger last week at the US Open. Clark missed the cut at the third major championship of the season, going 74-74 (eight over par) through two rounds. On Saturday, social media posts from golf podcaster Todd "Tron Carter" Schuster of "No Laying Up" showed photos he obtained from the Oakmont locker room. Two of the lockers' doors were seriously damaged, with Schuster connecting it to Clark. Oakmont officials later confirmed Clark's locker had been damaged. Clark was asked about the incident Thursday at the Travelers Championship after he opened with a six-under 64. "Yeah, I mean, I've had a lot of highs and lows in my career, especially this year some lows," Clark said. "I made a mistake that I deeply regret. I'm very sorry for what happened." "But I'd also like to move on, not only for myself but for Oakmont, for the USGA, and kind of focus on the rest of this year and things that come up. "I still want to try to make the Ryder Cup team. I still am on the outside looking in for the FedEx Cup. So I'm starting to move on and focus on those things." Clark did not comment further on the matter. It was not known whether he had apologised directly to Oakmont. It was the second straight major where Clark, the 2023 US Open champion, had to apologise for aggressive behaviour. At the PGA Championship in May, following a poor drive, Clark threw his driver toward the back of the tee box. It crashed into signage with a volunteer standing mere feet away, and the head of the club snapped off. Wyndham Clark has delivered an apology for damaging Oakmont Country Club lockers in anger last week at the US Open. Clark missed the cut at the third major championship of the season, going 74-74 (eight over par) through two rounds. On Saturday, social media posts from golf podcaster Todd "Tron Carter" Schuster of "No Laying Up" showed photos he obtained from the Oakmont locker room. Two of the lockers' doors were seriously damaged, with Schuster connecting it to Clark. Oakmont officials later confirmed Clark's locker had been damaged. Clark was asked about the incident Thursday at the Travelers Championship after he opened with a six-under 64. "Yeah, I mean, I've had a lot of highs and lows in my career, especially this year some lows," Clark said. "I made a mistake that I deeply regret. I'm very sorry for what happened." "But I'd also like to move on, not only for myself but for Oakmont, for the USGA, and kind of focus on the rest of this year and things that come up. "I still want to try to make the Ryder Cup team. I still am on the outside looking in for the FedEx Cup. So I'm starting to move on and focus on those things." Clark did not comment further on the matter. It was not known whether he had apologised directly to Oakmont. It was the second straight major where Clark, the 2023 US Open champion, had to apologise for aggressive behaviour. At the PGA Championship in May, following a poor drive, Clark threw his driver toward the back of the tee box. It crashed into signage with a volunteer standing mere feet away, and the head of the club snapped off.
New York Post
6 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Caitlin Clark's former coach calls for WNBA rule changes after shoving drama
Caitlin Clark was at the center of the WNBA conversation again after the fracas between the Fever and Sun that saw the second-year guard get knocked to the court. One of Clark's former coaches believes that for the WNBA to make any substantive changes to the physical nature of play, there would need to be significant tweaks to the way games are called by officials. Former Iowa coach Lisa Bluder, who led Clark for four seasons with the Hawkeyes, believes that would mean calling more fouls. 'I think there needs to be more freedom of movement in our game,' she told TMZ on Thursday. 'Which means, yes, calling more fouls, which people don't like, but people will adjust. The players will adjust. Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever falls to the floor after being pushed by Marina Mabrey of the Connecticut Sun during an altercation in the third quarter at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 17, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Getty Images 'If we start calling more fouls and emphasize the rules, the players will adjust, 'cause they want to be on the floor.' Bluder emphasized to the outlet that she didn't think Clark was being 'targeted,' but teams were playing more physically against her because it's the best way to defend the Fever star. On Tuesday, Clark was poked in the eye by the Sun's Jacy Sheldon before the two got physical after the whistle. Clark gave Sheldon a shove, causing Connecticut's Tina Charles and Marina Mabrey to step in, with the latter shoving Clark to the ground. Lisa Bluder of the Iowa Hawkeyes is seen during the first quarter against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the 2023 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal game at American Airlines Center on March 31, 2023 in Dallas, Texas. Getty Images After things were sorted out, Clark, Charles and Mabrey all received technical fouls, while Sheldon — who was later ejected from the game in a separate scuffle with the Fever's Sophie Cunningham — was hit with a flagrant 1. Mabrey, upon league review, saw the foul get upgraded to a flagrant 2, and she was also fined. In the immediate aftermath of the game, Fever head coach Stephanie White called out the officials for not getting a handle on what became a tense game. 'When the officials don't get control of the ballgame, when they allow stuff to happen, and it's been happening all season long … this is what happens,' White said. 'You've got competitive women, who are the best in the world at what they do, right? And when you allow them to play physical, and you allow these things to happen, they're going to compete, and they're going to have their teammates' backs.'
Perth Now
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Major winner 'very sorry' for damaging Oakmont lockers
Wyndham Clark has delivered an apology for damaging Oakmont Country Club lockers in anger last week at the US Open. Clark missed the cut at the third major championship of the season, going 74-74 (eight over par) through two rounds. On Saturday, social media posts from golf podcaster Todd "Tron Carter" Schuster of "No Laying Up" showed photos he obtained from the Oakmont locker room. Two of the lockers' doors were seriously damaged, with Schuster connecting it to Clark. Oakmont officials later confirmed Clark's locker had been damaged. Clark was asked about the incident Thursday at the Travelers Championship after he opened with a six-under 64. "Yeah, I mean, I've had a lot of highs and lows in my career, especially this year some lows," Clark said. "I made a mistake that I deeply regret. I'm very sorry for what happened." "But I'd also like to move on, not only for myself but for Oakmont, for the USGA, and kind of focus on the rest of this year and things that come up. "I still want to try to make the Ryder Cup team. I still am on the outside looking in for the FedEx Cup. So I'm starting to move on and focus on those things." Clark did not comment further on the matter. It was not known whether he had apologised directly to Oakmont. It was the second straight major where Clark, the 2023 US Open champion, had to apologise for aggressive behaviour. At the PGA Championship in May, following a poor drive, Clark threw his driver toward the back of the tee box. It crashed into signage with a volunteer standing mere feet away, and the head of the club snapped off.
