The Indiana Fever secured a 99-82 victory over the Atlanta Dream on Friday, but excitement was tempered by fan frustration surrounding Natasha Howard’s behavior toward Caitlin Clark. Despite Howard’s $214,466 one-year contract, many supporters accused the veteran forward of deliberately ignoring Clark on the court by refusing to pass the ball to the Fever’s star point guard.
Two pivotal moments heightened fan anger: Just before halftime, Clark showed clear frustration after being denied an inbound pass, and near the end of the third quarter, Howard chose to dribble herself instead of passing to Clark, who was actively calling for the ball with her hand raised. These actions appeared to waste valuable time and sparked outrage on social media.
Fever fans flooded online platforms with critical remarks about Howard’s reluctance to involve Clark in the game’s flow, fueling speculation about tension between the players and dissatisfaction with Howard’s performance despite the team’s strong showing.
“There’s definitely some tension there lol,” a fan commented.
Offensive Struggles for Both Howard and Clark Despite Team’s Strong Win
Even though Indiana Fever claimed a decisive win, both Natasha Howard and Caitlin Clark struggled offensively. Howard had difficulty finding her shot from beyond the arc, missing both three-point attempts, while Clark continued to battle a shooting slump from long range.
Howard ended the game with nine points on 4-for-10 shooting, including no success on her two three-point tries, but made her only free throw attempt. Additionally, she contributed seven rebounds, two steals, and achieved a +5 plus/minus rating over 24 minutes.
Clark’s shooting woes were more pronounced, as she converted only 5 of 17 field goal attempts, including a disappointing 1-for-7 from behind the three-point line, alongside a 1-for-2 free throw record. Despite her scoring difficulties, Clark recorded nine assists, collected four rebounds, and kept turnovers low with just two in 26 minutes of play.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why was Caitlin Clark sitting with Taylor Swift?
A. Clark was spotted in the same suite as Swift at Arrowhead Stadium during the Chiefs’ divisional playoff game. This matchup was against the Houston Texans on Saturday. This event marks the first time Clark and Swift have been seen at a game together. According to Clark, Swift invited her to join earlier this season.
Q. Why is Taylor Swift sitting with Caitlin Clark?
A. Swift was spotted sitting beside WNBA star Caitlin Clark during the Chiefs’ home game against the Houston Texans. Clark’s presence in Swift’s suite happened soon after the Indiana Fever player shared that the singer invited her to a Chiefs game.