Johnson swiftly earned backlash for her remarks, with fans and Clark's fellow athletes coming to the defense of the Fever guard. Former NBA player Matt Barnes also joined the fray, ripping Clark's haters and stressing her wide impact on the WNBA. He also acknowledged the difficulty of Clark's position as a national phenomenon.

Caitlin Clark worked out with new Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White, and fans are already excited about the new season

After receiving TIME's Athlete of the Year award, Caitlin Clark has appeared on social media to respond to one of her teammate's recognitions.