Retired WNBA Star Volunteers To Be Caitlin Clark's 'Bodyguard,' Encourages Fever To Sign Her
A retired five-time WNBA All-Star offered to be Caitlin Clark's ‘bodyguard’ as fellow players continue to target the Indiana Fever star.
Angel McCoughtry, 37, spoke up on the recent Caitlin Clark buzz. After Saturday's cheap shot by Chennedy Carter, Clark's fans are looking around and hoping an ‘enforcer’ can step up to protect the Fever player since her current teammates have been acting like bumps on a log.
Speaking with TMZ Sports, McCoughtry announced that she'd be willing to come out of retirement if the Fever needed a bodyguard for Clark. And she offers more than just a mean attitude on the court.
Guard Caitlin Clark of the Iowa Hawkeyes listens as the crowd cheers after breaking the NCAA women's all-time scoring record during the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on February 15, 2024 in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
ATLANTA - Angel McCoughtry of the WNBA Atlanta Dream during Neuro Drinks At LudaDay Weekend Celebrity Basketball Game at GSU Sports Arena on September 1, 2013. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Neuro Drinks)
But the two-time WNBA scoring champ, drafted first overall in 2009, sounds ready to get scrappy.
Should the Indiana Fever respond and sign McCoughtry?
"Take care of your players. All of y'all," McCoughtry said.
Former NBA players and figures around the basketball community have sounded the alarm on protecting Clark as ‘petty’ WNBA players try to get a physical and psychological edge over the box-office player.
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Fellow WNBA players sense they can make careers out of hating Caitlin Clark, but who will step up to protect her? Fever teammates have sheepishly looked on as Clark gets berated off the court and pushed around on the court. During Saturday's win over the Chicago Sky, Fever players stood around after Chennedy Clark needlessly hip-checked Clark on an inbound play. Since the dirty play, no Fever teammates have stood up or stood out in the discussion and taken Clark's side in the matter.
"I don't care who it is," McCoughtry continued. "If somebody is dragging your player down by the neck, I'm in your face. 'What the hell are you doing?' Hey, we can go have lunch later, but right now we're competing. Don't grab my player like that.
Angel McCoughtry of the Minnesota Lynx poses for a portrait during 2022 Media Day on April 20, 2022 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
"Someone sign me! I'll make sure, I'm a vet and I'll make sure I defend and do what I gotta do," she guaranteed.
As OutKick's Bobby Burack previously wrote, the ‘open season’ mentality on Clark may one day result in a serious injury for the new face of the WNBA.
NBA legend Charles Barkley called the vicious attitude toward Clark a new form of ‘pettiness’ from the league as a white player quickly ascends to the top of the sport, while the other women watch. And rather than being grateful for the opportunities Clark opens up for the rest of the league (charter flights, anyone?) WNBA players may only react with scorn.
Women's basketball icon Nancy Lieberman said she'd react by swinging a fist at the next player who attempts to ‘hip-check’ Clark. And like Lieberman, many established and new WNBA fans are waiting for Clark or the Fever to one day clap back at all the haters (looking at you, Angel Reese).
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