WNBA star ripped for Caitlin Clark 'cheap shot' by fans as Seattle Storm lose to Indiana Fever

Seattle Storm's Skylar Diggins-Smith has been slammed by fans online for taking a cheap shot at Caitlin Clark on Sunday.

Clark inspired the Indiana Fever to yet another WNBA victory as they powered past the Storm 92-75 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. 

The No. 1 overall pick and rookie sensation has been subject to a lot of rough treatment during her first season as a pro, most notably by Chicago Sky's Chennedy Carter.

But 34-year-old Diggins-Smith, an Olympic gold medalist and six-time WNBA all-star, was caught needlessly bumping into Clark at the end of Sunday's game.

Clark was hyping up the Fever fans after the buzzer when Diggins-Smith appeared to speed up her walk to purposely crash into her opponent.

Skylar Diggins-Smith has been slammed by fans online for taking a cheap shot at Caitlin Clark

Diggins-Smith (left) was caught needlessly bumping into Clark at the end of Sunday's game

Unfazed, Clark kept walking and celebrating with the victorious home fans. 

Diggins-Smith has been slammed on social media, however, with fans accusing her of being jealous of Clark and bitter about her success.

One wrote: 'Jealousy causes hatred and its sad to witness.'

Another commented: 'She even dipped her shoulder.. Clark has everyone on tilt in this league.'

A third added: 'Diggs might need some time in the weight room. Clark walked right through that lol.'

'Imagine being this jealous of someone who put your sport on the map,' wrote another.

Another user said: 'Typical jealous move. That player sucks. Such poor behavior!'

It comes after Dave Portnoy called for a WNBA official to be fired or suspended for giving Clark a technical and admonishing her for punching a stanchion on Sunday.

Despite another record-breaking performance by Clark, the post-game discussion centered around the tech and her exchange with official Tyler Ricks.

'I got a technical for basically being mad at myself because I missed a three,' Clark said. 

'And then I went and hit the backboard, and he told me it was disrespectful to the game of basketball.'

She went on to say that she should thank Ricks for inspiring her remarkable second-half performance.

Portnoy – an uncompromising Clark fan who recently bet $100,000 on the Fever winning this year's WNBA title – was less forgiving. As he wrote on X, Portnoy believes Ricks 'should be suspended or fired.' 

Clark scored 23 points and added nine assists to help the Fever beat the Seattle Storm 92-75

Clark scored 23 points and nine assists to help the Fever beat the Seattle Storm 92-75.

With 232 assists so far this season, Clark broke the previous WNBA rookie record of 224 by Ticha Penicheiro in 1998.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft has scored at least 20 points in five of her last six games. She is averaging 23.7 points on 47 per cent shooting from the field, and 11.7 assists over that span.

Indiana (13-15), which has matched its win total from the 2023 campaign with 12 games remaining in the regular season, has won back-to-back games coming out of the monthlong break for the Paris Olympics.

The Fever have won four of five overall and 10-5 after winning just three of 11 games to open the season.