Dick Vitale backs Caitlin Clark's 'right to complain' amid Fever star's 'whipping'

1 hour ago 2

For the second time in a week, legendary college basketball broadcaster Dick Vitale has leapt to Caitlin Clark's defense after another controversial incident involving physical play against the Indiana Fever superstar.

After he slammed the WNBA last week for failing to treat Clark like "royalty," Vitale has dipped back into the well to take advantage of the newest incident involving Clark, which stemmed from Wednesday night's loss to the Golden State Valkyries.

MORE: Dick Vitale sends strong message to WNBA over Caitlin Clark treatment

In the second quarter of Wednesday's 88-75 defeat, Clark took contact above the knee from Valkyries center Kiah Stokes on a drive to the rim.

The three-time All-Star was outraged as the referees did not whistle for a foul, and incredibly avoided a technical for shouting at one of the officials after the ensuing possession.

Vitale, a longtime color commentator with ESPN, believes her reaction was completely warranted.

"She has a right to complain as @CaitlinClark22 on many times takes a physical whipping w/o any calls made," Vitale said on X, mentioning the official accounts of the Fever, ESPN PR and Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy.

She has a right to complain as @CaitlinClark22 on many times takes a physical whipping w/o any calls made. @IndianaFever @ESPNPR @stoolpresidente https://t.co/504PSjBnAG

— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) July 16, 2026

Vitale's bad-faith argument that Clark sustains a "whipping" every game is, again, not backed up by the data.

Clark ranks eighth out of 222 WNBA players in personal fouls drawn this season. She ranks 10th in free throws attempted and 11th in free throws made. Clark frequently gets rewarded for her many drives to the rim, as well as her innumerable step-back 3-point attempts.

Even still, Vitale and other bad faith actors like Portnoy, Christine Brennan and Boomer Esiason are only deepening the toxicity that has enveloped Clark since she entered the WNBA in 2024.

While Clark herself continues to play into the narrative that the WNBA and its already-beleaguered officials treat her poorly, some of the loudest voices in sports talk continue to amplify her complaints and those of her coach Stephanie White.

Muddying the waters and tacitly encouraging abuse of other players only further contributes to the image problem that the WNBA continues to have under the stewardship of commissioner Cathy Engelbert.