“This Isn’t Talent—It’s Tactical Manipulation” Shaq JUST EXPOSED Caitlin Clark’s dirty scheme- Caitlin Clark fans are losing their cool
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It all started during a segment on “Inside the NBA,” when Shaquille O’Neal, never one to shy away from a hot take, was asked about Clark’s impact on the WNBA this season. While acknowledging her impressive stats and highlight-reel plays, Shaq didn’t mince words about what he saw as a troubling trend in her style of play.
“This isn’t just talent—this is tactical manipulation,” Shaq said, his trademark baritone carrying a note of skepticism. “She’s smart, no doubt. But some of what she’s doing out there, it’s about working the refs, baiting defenders, and bending the rules just enough to get an edge. That’s not the same as being the most skilled player on the floor.”
The comment immediately went viral, with social media lighting up as fans and pundits scrambled to take sides.
The Heart of the Accusation
At the center of Shaq’s critique is the way Clark draws fouls and manipulates game tempo. Her ability to sell contact, orchestrate pick-and-roll mismatches, and pressure officials into making calls has been both praised and criticized throughout her rookie year. Some call it high basketball IQ; others, like Shaq, see it as bending the spirit of the game.
“She gets into the lane, throws her body around, and dares the refs not to blow the whistle,” Shaq continued. “It’s clever, but it’s not what I’d call pure basketball.”
For Clark’s supporters, these are the very qualities that make her special—a player who understands every nuance of the game and uses her intelligence to maximize her impact. For critics, it’s a sign that the league’s officiating is being exploited by a rookie who’s already become its biggest draw.
Fans Erupt: “Leave Her Alone!”
If Shaq’s comments were meant to spark debate, they succeeded beyond anyone’s imagination. Within hours, #StandWithCaitlin was trending on X (formerly Twitter), with thousands of fans leaping to her defense.
“She’s out there getting hacked every night and still putting up numbers,” wrote one fan. “If she was a dude, they’d call it ‘crafty.’ Since it’s Caitlin, suddenly it’s a problem?”
Others pointed out that manipulation and gamesmanship are hardly new to basketball. “Michael Jordan, Chris Paul, James Harden—they all worked the refs and used every trick in the book,” another user posted. “Why is it different when Caitlin does it?”
The backlash wasn’t limited to social media. Former players and current analysts rushed to Clark’s defense, calling out what they saw as a double standard. “Caitlin Clark is the real deal,” said Hall of Famer Lisa Leslie on ESPN. “She’s changing the game, and that makes some people uncomfortable. But you can’t deny her skill or her impact.”
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Lost in the noise is the fact that Clark’s numbers remain historic. She leads all rookies in scoring and assists, and her ability to control the pace of the game has transformed the Indiana Fever from league afterthought to playoff contender. Her knack for drawing fouls and getting to the free-throw line has been a key part of her success, but it’s hardly the only reason she’s dominating.
“She’s the fastest player in WNBA history to 400 assists for a reason,” said Fever coach Stephanie White. “Her vision, her leadership, her competitive fire—you can’t teach that.”
The Broader Debate: Where’s the Line?
Shaq’s comments have reignited an age-old debate in basketball: Where is the line between smart play and gamesmanship? Is drawing fouls and manipulating tempo a sign of genius, or does it cross an ethical line?
For many, the answer is simple: If it’s within the rules, it’s fair game. “Basketball is as much mental as it is physical,” said veteran analyst Doris Burke. “The best players know how to use every tool at their disposal. Caitlin Clark is just playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers.”
But for others, Shaq’s critique resonates. “There’s a difference between using your head and gaming the system,” said one longtime fan. “At some point, you want to see the refs let them play and the best talent win out.”
Clark Stays Focused
Through it all, Caitlin Clark has remained remarkably composed. When asked about Shaq’s comments after practice, she smiled and shrugged. “I’ve always played the game my way,” she said. “I respect Shaq, but I’m just focused on helping my team win. At the end of the day, that’s all that matters.”
Her response only further endeared her to fans, who see her as both a generational talent and a lightning rod for the changing face of women’s basketball.
Looking Ahead
As the Fever continue their push for the postseason, the spotlight on Clark—and the scrutiny that comes with it—shows no sign of dimming. Whether you see her as a master manipulator or a basketball prodigy, one thing is clear: Caitlin Clark has changed the conversation around the WNBA, and everyone is paying attention.
In the words of Shaq himself, “You can love it or hate it, but you can’t ignore it.”
SEE MORE: Who is Sophie Cunningham? Caitlin Clark’s new ‘bodyguard’ teammate emerging as a WNBA icon
Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham has become the second-most popular WNBA player among many circles of fans in recent days after aggressively protecting teammate Caitlin Clark from players who hit her.
During a game against the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday, Cunningham started a brawl between the two teams after several physical plays against Clark.
Cunningham’s persona and popularity skyrocketed in the days that followed, as she is slowly becoming an icon among the WNBA’s newer fans.
Cunningham’s follower count on social media has rapidly multiplied
June 17, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana: Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) in the second half against the Connecticut Sun at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. (Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images)
Prior to Tuesday’s game, Cunningham had fewer than 400,000 followers on TikTok.
At the time of publication, she has 1.2 million on TikTok and that number is only growing.
She has an estimated increase of more than 300,000 followers on Instagram since the game as well, with a total of more than 800,000 at the time of publication.
Sportico estimates that her increase in followers could be worth over $1 million.
“It’s unprecedented growth,” Addison Abdo, who represents Cunningham as a senior director at sports management agency PRP, told the outlet. “We work with some pretty big athletes that have gone viral for some pretty big things, but this has been something that I haven’t seen before—this type of growth in this short amount of time … was very new territory.”
Cunningham comes from a family of southern farmers
A five-part feature series by Cunningham’s alma mater, the University of Missouri, recounted her family’s southern farm roots.
Cunningham learned to ride horses and drove four-wheelers to the family’s grain silos.
“So much of our success goes back to what we learned here,” Cunningham said of working on the farm. “We loved coming out to the farm to help. We found out how to work hard and work together. It made us farm strong.”
Cunningham even had a special name for her farmer grandparents: “Maw Maw and Paw Paw.”
Cunningham played football with boys in high school
Cunningham was born into a family of athletes, as her parents, Jim and Paula Cunningham, each played sports at the University of Missouri. Her father played football, and her mother competed in track and field.
So Sophie ended up in sports right away.
She played girls’ basketball and volleyball at Rock Bridge High School in Missouri, but even ended up following in her dad’s footsteps on the football field.
A 2014 article by the Columbia Missourian reported that Cunningham was the first female to ever score any points for the team in history, when she kicked two of four extra points in place of the team’s regular kicker, who had suffered a torn ACL.
Cunningham even handled kick-off duties.
“I was so nervous,” Cunningham told the outlet. “I mean, I’ve never played football before in all my life. Right when I got the ball (on the opening kickoff), I couldn’t hear anything. I just put the ball down and kicked it.”
Cunningham has been able to fight since she was a very young child
With Cunningham earning the nickname “the enforcer” for the Fever, fans counting on her to protect Caitlin Clark can take confidence in knowing she is a black belt in the Korean martial art of Taekwondo.
She earned the black belt at just the tender age of six.
Cunningham’s martial arts experience earned the affection of ESPN host Pat McAfee.
“It feels like Caitlin Clark is going to get treated in a certain way in this league for a long time. She’s not a rookie anymore. She has already proved herself. She has won. And then there was some ladies last night that were trying to get a little physical,” McAfee said during an episode of his show Wednesday.
May 17, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA: Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) poses for a photo on Saturday, May 17, 2025, before a game between the Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. (Grace Smith- Imagn Images via IndyStar)
“And last year, I think something we noticed… when Caitlin would get bullied, nobody would do nothing… They bring in Sophie Cunningham, I had no idea Sophie Cunningham was a black belt at the age of six! Boom! ‘Jacy Sheldon, that’s cute. You want to poke [Clark] in the eye?… I’ll take a take-foul, and you’ll eat the deck a little bit here.'”
Cunningham was once criticized for wearing a hat that resembled a MAGA hat
Back in June of last year, Cunningham posted a photo of herself wearing a red hat with white text on social media, and swarms of critics rushed to speak out against her for perceived support of Donald Trump.
June 17, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana: Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) and Connecticut Sun guard Jacy Sheldon (4) get into a fight in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. (Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images)
However, the hat simply said “Hot Cowgirl Summer.”
Cunningham’s team at the time, the Phoenix Mercury, even had to make a post from the official team account to clarify what the hat said.
OutKick has previously reported that Cunningham has been regularly criticized by WNBA fans who have nicknamed her “MAGA Barbie.”
Cunningham’s official political views are unknown.
