Caitlin Clark teammate reveals hate messages after controversial call vs. UConn
Caitlin Clark and Iowa escaped with a win vs. UConn, but Gabbie Marshall was bombarded with hate messages after controverisal ending.
Friday night’s Final Four game between the UConn Huskies and the Iowa Hawkeyes was billed as an instant classic, and for the most part the game lived up to its billing. Caitlin Clark and Iowa escaped with a 71-69 win, but the talk of the game was a controversial call involving Gabbie Marshall.
Late in the fourth quarter with UConn threatening to steal the game, Marshall was hit by a screen from Aaliyah Edwards while chasing Paige Bueckers. Edwards was called for an illegal screen, prompting outrage across social media from fans, players and media alike.
During an Iowa media availability session the day before the championship game, Gabbie Marshall revealed that she had deleted her social media accounts due to the overwhelming number of hate messages she had received following the game as per Scott Reister of KCCI Sports.
I’ve gotten a lot of hate comments,” Marshall said. “I don’t know. I’m not the one that made the call. So I’m not sure why they’re mad at me personally.”
Gabbie Marshall has been a defensive stopper for Iowa
While Caitlin Clark may be the focus of attention for the Hawkeyes, Marshall has been one of their unsung heroes, especially on the defensive end. Against UConn, Marshall was tasked with covering Paige Bueckers, arguably the best player in the game. Bueckers scored 17 points, but wasn’t as efficient as she normally is.
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“It happened, personally I thought it was an illegal screen, it’s not like it was the first one of the game,” Marshall said. “I’ve kind of deleted social media, I feel like it just kind of overlooked the fact that I played my butt off the whole game trying to guard her, trying to get over screens the whole game and feel like that one play just consumed everything. That’s all anyone’s talking about. They’re not talking about the fact that it was a great game between two great teams.”
Caitlin Clark wasn’t her usual efficient self either, being hounded and guarded by UConn’s own defensive stopper, Nika Muhl. She did have 21 points but shot only 7-18 from the field and 3-11 from the three point line.
