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In the midst of Caitlin Clark’s extended injury absence from the Indiana fever, at least one media study has suggested that the team be better without the superstar.
ESPNS Carolyn Peck said on the network on Thursday that Indiana is a “more dangerous” team without clark on the floor.
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Carolyn Peck speaks before the game between Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty during match one of the 2024 WNBA final on October 10, 2024 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. (David L. Nemec/NBAE via Getty Images)
“I think Indiana is even more dangerous when Caitlin Clark doesn’t play because she’s a ball -dominant guard,” she said. “The ball is very much in your hands so you know what you need to try to remove. But when you look at Indiana now, they have so many weapons.”
Peck gave specific praise to fever players Kelsey Mitchell, Aari McDonald and Aliyah Boston. Peck did not seem to give praise to fever stars Sophie Cunningham or Lexie Hull.
“When you have a guards like Kelsey Mitchell, and Aari McDonald, who plays on the perimeter, and a post like Aliyah Boston, I’ll tell you: Indiana, they’re a threat. And it’s specifically on the defensive end,” Peck said.
Peck’s comments were viral on social media and encouraged anger from Clark’s loyal supporters.
Barstool -founder Dave Portnoy repositioned the clip of Peck’s comments on X, Writing, “I knew this would happen.”
The popular Sports Commentary X account “Brickscenter” also shared the clip and wrote: “Their hatred against CC should be studied.”
Hundreds of smaller accounts made their criticism of Peck’s analysis known.
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Indiana Fever Guard Caitlin Clark (22) plays against Dallas Wings in the second half of a WNBA basketball match in Indianapolis, Sunday 15 September 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
“ESPN would be much more ‘dangerous’ without Carolyn Peck,” a user wrote.
Another user wrote, “All Peck’s Tage CC last year ended up being wrong and I don’t expect anything other than this season.”
A user even went so far as to say, “Espn analyst Carolyn Peck is a hate and a fool.”
Peck was women’s basketball head trainer in Purdue as the current fever header Stephanie White was a player there. Together they won the NCAA title in 1999.
Clark has missed the team’s last four matches with a groin injury and will miss a fifth on Saturday against La Sparks. She previously missed five matches with a quad injury.
From left guard in Indiana Fever Kelsey Mitchell (0), Guard Lexie Hull, Guard Sophie Cunningham and Fremad Aliyah Boston (7) hug during the second half of a WNBA basketball match against Seattle Storm, Tuesday, June 24, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
With Clark, Indiana is 5-4, on average an 85.0 offensive rating.
Without Clark, the team is 5–4 with an average 80.2 offensive rating.
In games she has played, Clark is an average of 18.2 points, 8.9 assists and 5.9 revenue.
