The Caitlin Clark effect is taking a toll on her Indiana Fever teammates: “We're being criticized for being on her team”

C aitlin Clark has transformed the Indiana Fever into one of the WNBA's biggest attractions, but the attention surrounding the superstar has also created an uncomfortable reality for some of her teammates.

That tension has become increasingly visible following Indiana's first-round playoff exit against the Las Vegas Aces , with Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell both discussing the treatment they have received from portions of the Fever fan base.

Their comments came shortly after Fever general manager Amber Cox strongly defended Indiana supporters against criticism over their behavior.

The disagreement has created an unusual divide between the organization's leadership and players who say the experience of playing for the Fever can sometimes be difficult.

Boston described having to deal with harsh comments earlier in the season before seeing the tone change once Indiana began winning more games.

“Being on this team to start this season, I was at the other end of those hate comments,” Boston said after Indiana’s season ended in a playoff series loss to Las Vegas.

“I was at the end of every single thing that succumbed. They say they support the Fever and everything like that, but… they just said everything under the earth. That was a big reason why I took a break from social media.”

The former No. 1 overall pick also pointed to what she saw as a dramatic shift in how supporters treated her when the team's fortunes improved.

“At the same time it’s like now that the tables have turned and we started winning games, and we had something better in their opinion, then all of a sudden it was like love comments, ‘oh my gosh, you’re doing amazing.’”

Mitchell , meanwhile, focused specifically on what comes with playing alongside Clark . The veteran guard has spent her entire WNBA career with Indiana and produced the best scoring season of her career in 2026, averaging 24.7 points per game.

“Showing up every day to compete for fans that may or may not like you is hard,” she said. “Playing with (Caitlin Clark) and having the eyes that she got, we get a lot of flak for just being on her team.”

The Fever's popularity has brought unprecedented attention

There is little question that Clark's arrival has dramatically changed the scale of attention surrounding Indiana.

The Fever went 28-16 during the 2026 regular season, with Clark averaging 22.3 points and 8.3 assists per game while Mitchell averaged 24.7 points and Boston added 16.1 points and 8.0 rebounds.

But increased visibility can also magnify everything that happens around the team. Praise, criticism, social-media arguments and individual performances all receive considerably more attention when Clark is involved.

That was evident during the season when Boston and Mitchell publicly backed head coach Stephanie White after fans booed her introduction at a home game.

Clark also said she understood that fans could disagree with decisions but made clear that the team would support its coach.

The issue resurfaced in the playoffs. During Indiana's series against Las Vega s, Aces star A'ja Wilson confronted a Fever fan after he pointed at her during Game 2.

The Fever later clarified that the spectator had not violated the team's Fan Code of Conduct and was not removed from the arena.

That incident became part of the larger conversation about the environment around Indiana games, although it is important not to characterize every Fever supporter in the same way.

Former Fever forward Brianna Turner , who now plays for Las Vegas, nevertheless pushed back strongly against Cox's defense of the fan base.

“This is an unequivocally false statement,” Turner said. “Players inside and outside the organization have repeatedly issued complaints with the Fever fan base. While it’s not all Indy fans, it’s certainly a trend. To say the attacks have ‘no basis in reality’ is disingenuous.”

Cox has maintained that the overwhelming majority of Indiana supporters have behaved appropriately and that criticism of the entire fan base is unfair.

“The attacks on our fanbase have no basis in reality, and they need to stop,” Cox said.

“Especially with members of the media. … I’m talking about media who have never been to a game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Every organization in the league, every organization throughout professional sports, all the way down to youth rec leagues, have to deal with occasional bad behavior from spectators. And anyone who crosses the line in an arena or online needs to be held accountable. I want to be really clear about that. There is a line, and people need to be held accountable if they cross it.

“But here’s the fact: We did not have one fan pointed out by a player who violated the WNBA code of conduct this season. Not one fan was removed from a game. … Our fans love this team. They’re going to cheer, they’re going to boo, and sometimes they might point. It’s a home-court advantage for a reason, and it’s the same for the Pacers. And all of that is within the code of conduct.”

The disagreement does not necessarily mean Clark herself is the source of tension inside the Fever .

In fact, Mitchell's comments suggest something more complicated: the extraordinary level of attention surrounding Clark can spill over onto everyone associated with her.

For Boston, who was already a centerpiece of the Fever before Clark arrived, that attention has meant dealing with criticism and then a sudden reversal when her performances improved.

For Mitchell , it has meant becoming part of a global spotlight that did not exist at the same level during the earlier stages of her career. That is the double-edged nature of the Caitlin Clark effect.

Her presence has helped make the Fever one of the WNBA's most watched teams and has created enormous exposure for the players around her.

But that exposure also means teammates can find themselves pulled into online debates and criticism simply because they wear the same uniform.

Indiana now enters an important offseason after another first-round playoff defeat. Keeping Clark, Mitchell and Boston together remains a major priority for the franchise, but the organization will also have to consider how it handles the enormous expectations surrounding its players.

The Fever's popularity is unlikely to disappear. If anything, it is likely to grow.

The challenge will be making sure the attention that has helped transform the franchise into one of the WNBA's biggest draws does not become an unnecessary burden for the players expected to turn that popularity into postseason success.