RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Earlier this season Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark called out the WNBA's officiating after she was hit in the throat by Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas.
Clark addressed the incident a few days after, saying the “reffing needs to be better” and the “league’s just gotta do better protecting players.” Eventually the WNBA decided to hit Thomas with a one-game suspension, even though there was no foul called on the initial incident.
As Clark continues to deal with physical play from her opponents, she received a message from NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal , who told the star guard she needs to "toughen up" because her rivals are feeding off of "jealousy."
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“There’s a lot of other girls with similar skills, who get no play, who get no mention, and there’s jealousy — professional jealousy,” he said.
The NBA legend revealed that if Clark keeps playing the way she has for the first three years of her career, the rest of the WNBA will eventually give her the "throne."
“Keep doing that, and the rites of passage will start to open up, and they will invite you in and give you the throne,” O’Neal said .
The three-time All-Star is already the fastest player to hit 1,000 points, 250 rebounds and 250 assists — in just 54 career games, breaking Diana Taurasi’s previous record of 62 games.
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