lark has a big tennis name in her corner

Caitlin ClarkLAPRESSE

SAM

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova has come out in support of Caitlin Clark and urged other WNBA players to treat her with a lot more respect than they currently are.

Clark has undoubtedly raised the profile of the WNBA since she arrived at the Indiana Fever at the beginning of this season but her treatment within matches has been rough to say the least.

Caitlin Clark’s teammates called out for not protecting her from hard foulsParker Johnson

Fever coach Christie Sides has already spoken to the press about how forceful some of the established stars are being with Clark.

“The whole 40 minutes [Clark] is in the game – on both ends – she’s getting beat up,” Sides said.

“She keeps fighting. I just feel like we need to get the same calls that they’re getting on the other end. We’re just not getting those same calls. I’m going to fight like hell for them.”

After those comments, there was a barge on Clark off the ball from Chennedy Carter which has gone viral and split opinion.

Martina Navratilova backs Caitlin Clark

Navratilova thinks that Carter and others ought to keep in mind that there is far more interest in their league now that Clark and others are in it, fresh from historically impressive NCAA seasons.

“The players in the WNBA need to realize that Caitlyn [sic] Clark is helping all of them, now and in the long run. Caitlyn [sic] is the tide that will raise all boats!” Navratilova said.

“I never said she was a saint. I was calling out a dirty play which was also stupid. If you want to go after someone, do it from the front. That’s all. Better yet- block their shots and win the game- that’s the best revenge,” Navratilova responded when a fan noted that Clark started it by talking trash to Carter.