When the game is on the line, Caitlin Clark seems to give up on Fever coach Christie Sides and disregard her.

Caitlin Clark wasn’t interested in hearing anything Indiana Fever head coach Christie Sides was trying to teach her players in the team meeting prior to the game’s last play—the team was trailing Chicago Sky by one point—before the play. The all-star guard gave up trying to win the game, shrugging her shoulders and turning to go.

Before the last shot, Caitlin Clark ignores her coach.
Fans of Fever were not pleased. While some were angry at Clark, others went after Sides for losing a 15-point lead. Others were shocked that Angel Reese, who led the Sky to an 89-88 triumph, was able to dominate with 25 points and 16 rebounds thanks to the Indiana defense.

With 0.5 seconds left and her team trailing by one point, Sides was formulating a play for a potential game-winning jumper when Clark exited the huddle. Any trust and positive energy that had been built up during Indiana’s previous four-game winning streak was long gone.

The competitive superstar has been captured in moments of tension with teammates, referees and her own coaches during games in the past. One trait that was never in question, though, was her desire to win. Seeing Clark “give up” while her team still had a chance to hit a game-winning shot was a huge red flag to fans that signaled deeper issues.