Imago
Credits- Imagn
Imago
Credits- Imagn
Caitlin Clark mellowed out when she got to the WNBA: that’s what many have thought over the last two years. Her college career at Iowa was filled with trash-talking and verbal banter, but Clark showed she is still the same passionate player. There aren’t wave-off incidents or ‘You can’t see me’ celebrations, but two seasons later, we finally have a hint of the same fiery Clark after an incident against Dallas in the season opener. Candace Parker loves it.
Watch What’s Trending Now!
With 4:31 left in the fourth quarter, Caitlin Clark went one-on-one against Aziaha James. Clark bumped James off, and she went down, calling for an offensive foul on Clark. But immediately when she went down, Clark was heard saying, “Flopping all f****** day.”
The referees agreed, calling a blocking foul on James in this case. Candace Parker found it entertaining, but she did have some favorable words for James, too.
Top Stories
“We got some pretty viral clips from that game as well. Caitlin Clark to Aziaha James: ‘Flopping all f****** day,’ which I love. This is what I love about Caitlin. She’s going to talk trash,” Parker said on “Post Moves” with Aliyah Boston. “Listen, if you ain’t cheating, you ain’t trying. Basketball is an entertaining sport, so you’ve got to sell it sometimes.”
Boston agreed, saying, “No, you have to.”
Clark and James had a few brushes throughout this game, and in this case, Clark’s arm extension signals an offensive violation. But James went down on first contact and, according to Clark, too lightly. Moments like this are exactly why the WNBA’s new officiating approach is already becoming a talking point around the league.
Imago
May 9, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) dribbles the ball while Dallas Wings guard Azzi Fudd (35) defends in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Parker’s comments can be perceived as outrageous by basketball purists, who may see her words as a way to encourage some level of cheating. Yes, it is part of the game, but limited use vs overuse can become telling should professionals and rising stars opt to implement her words in their game.
The WNBA now allows less contact, leading to an uptick in fouls. The league predicted that it would lead to more flopping and has added penalties for it. A player will receive a warning for their first offense. They will receive a $100 fine for their second violation, and the fine will increase by $100 for each succeeding violation.
As Parker said, there is a very thin line between ‘selling’ a foul and flopping, which makes it harder for the referees. The WNBA is moving toward NBA-like rules regarding player freedom of movement. In the NBA, the idea of “selling” contact has become so normalized that even stars openly talk about it.
“If you wanna be a great player, you gotta sell your soul,” Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown said. “You gotta be a flopper. If you wanna be an MVP, you wanna be top of the top, you gotta sell your soul and just be a flopper.”
And these accusations have not spared Clark herself. Clark has been accused of flopping in the past, while 4-time MVP Aja Wilson has been in the top three in free throws attempted since entering the league.
So, while it remains morally reprehensible to many, it is increasingly seen as a grey area. In this case, for Clark, the referees called a blocking foul, judging that James moved into Clark’s driving space illegally. While there are some drawbacks to this new style, it will help one aspect of Caitlin Clark.
Caitlin Clark’s Injury Return Will Be Helped By This New Directive
Caitlin Clark has said she is completely fit multiple times now. Her trips to the locker room during the Dallas game were just to adjust her back. A regular procedure according to both Clark and White.
However, Clark played a full-intensity WNBA game for the first time in 10 months. While it might not show on the court, Clark has admitted she is still getting used to the intensity.
“This is the first time I’ve played 30 minutes. Even playing for USA Basketball, I was playing 20 to 22 minutes. We have so many players, we were just rotating in and out,” Clark said ahead of the Los Angeles Sparks game.
She added, “I ran 4.6 miles in that game on Saturday versus the Dallas Wings. It’s a lot of stress on somebody’s body, just the pace and the physicality of it, too. That’s something I’m continuing to get used to, but I feel really good.”
Now, imagine the old kind of physicality at the same time Clark is trying to readjust. She already had to endure many physical plays during the last two years. They possibly contributed to her soft tissue injuries. Clark’s injuries could have been recurring if the league hadn’t clamped down on excessive contact. So, while there are some drawbacks like the increase in ‘flopping,’ the league hopes the injury count will go down.
