Caitlin Clark was in obvious pain and had to be helped off the court following second-ranked Iowa’s 100-92 overtime loss to No. 15 Ohio State. It wasn’t because of anything that happened during the game.
Instead, it was a collision that occurred after Buckeye fans began to storm the court at Value City Arena.
Clark was jogging toward the tunnel to exit the court when the All-American crashed into a fan darting toward center court. Both hit the hardwood, and while each got up Clark would need help to make her way back to the visitor’s locker room.
Here’s how it looked from the stands:
Caitlin Clark injury after the Ohio State game… pic.twitter.com/uLwtBmxF99
— DadsDontPlay (@Dadsdontplay) January 21, 2024
And here it was on the televised broadcast.
For people that wondered why Caitlin Clark always has multiple cops around her when the game isn't going on– it's to protect her from morons like that.
Caitlin was in a lot of pain leaving the court:
pic.twitter.com/E17SeXYR7b— David Eickholt (@DavidEickholt) January 21, 2024
Fortunately, Clark told the media she was OK in the Hawkeyes’ postgame press conference. She didn’t even seem to mind the court storming.
Caitlin Clark said it was a great atmosphere at the Schott. She said it was totally fine that Ohio State fans stormed the court but she was blindsided by a fan. She said she's okay and athletic director Gene Smith already came to apologize to her.
— Patrick Murphy (@_Pat_Murphy) January 21, 2024
We’ll see if this has any lasting effects in Big Ten policy — and if the conference aodpts a system of heavy fines for schools that allow fans to breach the court or field like the Southeastern Conference currently does. In the meantime, fans weren’t happy with the contact.
For people that wondered why Caitlin Clark always has multiple cops around her when the game isn't going on– it's to protect her from morons like that.
Caitlin was in a lot of pain leaving the court:
pic.twitter.com/E17SeXYR7b— David Eickholt (@DavidEickholt) January 21, 2024
caitlin clark gets hit by a fan rushing the court in what’s also a clear targeting foul, yeeesh https://t.co/2iVwN0T4Mt
— Brian Floyd (@BrianMFloyd) January 21, 2024
Caitlin Clark after she broke her nose due to the court storming
pic.twitter.com/VHcC5cauLt— Hawkeye Bernie (@HawkeyeBernie) January 21, 2024
Caitlin Clark apparently gets decked on her way off the court. This CANNOT happen. https://t.co/AgkKBVKg3L
— Adam Jacobi (@adam_jacobi) January 21, 2024
Something happened with Caitlin Clark at the end of the game and she had to be helped off the court. Appeared to be on a lot of pain/distress. pic.twitter.com/Te3feQh7QA
— Patrick Murphy (@_Pat_Murphy) January 21, 2024
If it takes Caitlin Clark getting wiped out for y’all to get that most serious anti-storming takes are actually about safety, well, at least we got there.
— Andy Hutchins (@AndyHutchins) January 21, 2024
Someone accidentally ran into/tripped into Caitlin Clark & they both went tumbling… she walked out of the arena hunched over & grabbing her stomach being escorted by security. I really hope she is okay… occurs at 0:28 mark. @OhioStateWBB @espn @ncaa @IowaWBB @CaitlinClark22 pic.twitter.com/QKD37QLjGx
— bethany brooks ♡ (@bethiejay3) January 21, 2024
Caitlin Clark when she comes back next game with a broken nose. Now you guys are really screwed. pic.twitter.com/OrtkegGpke
— YB (@OffInTheWoods87) January 21, 2024
And this is one of the major concerns with court storming.
Let’s hope Caitlin Clark is OK.
Clark had a season-high 45 points today in an overtime loss at Ohio State. https://t.co/jzbjEdudwu
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) January 21, 2024
lol they’re storming the court after a regular season win and you’re going to tell me Caitlin Clark isn’t single handedly changing the way basketball is played sure
— hawkize (@stillnothawkize) January 21, 2024
Fans rushing the court is beyond stupid and extremely dangerous for the athletes.
Case in point: Caitlin Clark appears to be injured by someone sprinting blindly onto the court while… filming themselves with their phone. pic.twitter.com/57j8u5LOsq
— Ryan Clarke (@RyanTClarke) January 21, 2024
I hope Caitlin Clark is OK.
I've been 50/50 on rushing courts/fields for most of my life. Well, 100% okay with it when I was young, dumber.
The injury and safety concerns are what moved my needle.
If that contact was malicious (no way to prove) there should be charges pressed.
— Todd Brommelkamp (@ToddBrommelkamp) January 21, 2024
Man, Caitlin Clark gets absolutely plowed at about the 8-second mark. https://t.co/7RGOPfc23B
— Dargan Southard (@Dargan_Southard) January 21, 2024
Ohio State fans on twitter blaming or mocking Caitlin Clark for getting flattened by a fan running while filming himself on his phone is gross.
— Steve Sherwood is probably here for wbb content. (@steve_sherwood) January 21, 2024
Look, I’ve seen the Caitlin Clark/fan collision video from multiple angles now, but until the Big Ten refs go to the monitor for 9 minutes of discussion, how are we supposed to know what really happened?
— Basketball Fan of maybe the Sixers (@drewhamm5) January 21, 2024
