The Indiana Fever’s WNBA season-opening loss to the Dallas Wings has already led to strong reactions around Caitlin Clark. This included a brutal on-air rant questioning whether her superstar rise was overhyped from the start.
Speaking on “The Craig Carton Show,” sports radio host Tyrone Johnson delivered a sharp criticism of Clark following Indiana’s 107-104 loss on opening night.
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“The Caitlin Clark thing is over because she’s not the best player in the WNBA,” Johnson said. “She’s not the best guard in the WNBA. She’s not even the best guard from her college class, because that’s Paige Bueckers, who plays for Dallas, who beat them in the season opener.”
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Johnson went even further by comparing Clark’s popularity surge to former NBA guard Jeremy Lin.
“We look back on Caitlin Clark, and we’re not gonna look back on her like she’s Michael Jordan. She’s Jeremy Lin. This is just Linsanity,” Johnson added.
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The comments came after Clark posted 20 points, seven assists, and five rebounds while also recording five turnovers in the Fever loss. She shot 7-for-18 from the field and missed a deep three-pointer late that could have tied the game.
Fever defensive issues overshadow Caitlin Clark’s opener
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) reacts to the action during Fever’s season opener game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis
While Clark remains the center of attention, the bigger concern for Indiana was team defense and overall structure. Dallas shot 59% from the field and 52% from three-point range, exposing major breakdowns in the Fever’s perimeter coverage.
Clark’s defensive struggles also surfaced as players defended by her reportedly shot 9-for-12 during the game. That does not erase her offensive value, but it highlights an area opposing teams will continue to target.
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Indiana’s offense still looked dangerous. Kelsey Mitchell scored 30 points, while Aliyah Boston added 23. Clark also led a major third-quarter comeback and reached 1,000 career WNBA points during the game.
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However, Dallas appeared more balanced and efficient. Paige Bueckers scored 20 points on 8-for-10 shooting, while Arike Ogunbowale added 22 points. The Wings also received strong contributions from Odyssey Sims and Jessica Shepard.
“When we look back on this, we’ll go, this girl had the world by the [expletive],” Johnson said. “She had everybody loving her. People who hate women’s sports were tuning in just for her.
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“And when we look at Jeremy Lin and look at her, we’re gonna find out that at the end of the day, it was the exact same thing.”
People should not rush to judge Caitlin Clark
Johnson’s comments were harsh, but declaring Clark’s rise ‘over’ after one game ignores the larger picture. Clark remains one of the league’s biggest stars and most impactful offensive guards. Still, the Fever must improve defensively and develop a stronger identity around their core if they want to compete seriously this season.
Opening-night hype alone will not carry Indiana through a demanding WNBA schedule.
