Caitlin Clark blamed for Fever’s dramatic loss to Aces as NFL alum blasts her for key turnover and giving up on last play

WNBA fans have blamed Caitlin Clark for the Indiana Fever’s dramatic defeat on Thursday night – after her turnover led to the Las Vegas Aces sealing a late win. 

The Aces triumphed 86-84 against Clark and the Fever at Gainbridge Fieldhouse after Chelsea Gray hit a game-winning, three-pointer with the final shot of overtime. 

The home Fever crowd were stunned into silence by Gray’s buzzer beater, while social media was set ablaze by the dramatic ending to the game in Indiana.

Many thought the Fever had the game in the bag after leading 84-83 with just 20 seconds left on the clock and Clark in possession of the ball. 

However, the Fever star was unable to get past reigning WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson, who swatted the ball away and left Clark on the floor as the Aces hit a fast break. 

The ball eventually found Gray on the outside, who made no mistake hitting her shot.

As social media reacted to the win, many fans blamed Clark for the defeat – including former NFL star Emmanuel Acho, who delivered a scathing assessment on the loss. 

Taking to X, Acho said: ‘The issue isn’t with this turnover by Caitlin Clark (though she had 8). The issue is she didn’t get her butt off the ground and SPRINT to get back in the play! 

‘Clark could’ve blocked Gray’s shot from behind or made her put the ball on the deck. She didn’t even get back in frame!’ 

Meanwhile, Barstool Sports boss Dave Portnoy – a renowned defender of Clark – wrote online: ‘Caitlin Clark didnt play great tonight. 2 huge missed free throws down the stretch and a huge turnover at the end of OT. No excuses. She sucked.’

Another fan wrote: ‘A’ja Wilson is a 3x DPOY and Caitlin Clark decided to go at her 1 on 1 with the game on the line and found out the hard way’. 

‘Caitlin Clark let us all down tonight, she choked,’ another said on social media. 

Prior to the dramatic ending, Clark and her Indiana Fever teammates received a welcome respite from the glaring spotlight following the team in recent weeks.

Back home, in Indiana, the rallies that stirred up so much discussion during their most recent road trip were virtually non-existent and the boos they heard repeatedly last week turned into resounding cheers.

Even the opposition to Sophie Cunningham’s divisive stance about keeping transgender women out of women’s sports had mostly abated temporarily.

It wasn’t just players who were ready to move on from the controversy, even if it only stops briefly in Indianapolis.

‘It’s about time. I do want to get back to basketball,’ said 24-year-old Carmen Edmainiston, a longtime Fever fan.