Caitlin Clark had a record-setting night Thursday, and the Michigan Wolverines knew it would be. After their matchup, the team gave Clark a gift and personal letters. As word spread on social media about the gesture, hoops fans were stunned and proceeded to roast the team.
There would always be some team on the receiving end of Caitlin Clark breaking Kelsey Plum’s scoring record. That is just the way the game goes. It was going to be the Nebraska Cornhuskers until Jaz Shelley decided otherwise. That meant the next team on the schedule, Michigan, would get a ready-to-rock Caitlin Clark and all her buckets.
Perhaps Michigan was aware of the gravity of the situation. Iowa head coach Lisa Bluder told the media that the entire team wrote Caitlin a note and gave her a gift after the game.
Iowa Head Coach Lisa Bluder’s opening statement after a record breaking night from Caitlin Clark: pic.twitter.com/My8iG4mh48
— Dallas Jones (@DallasJonesy) February 16, 2024
Lisa Bluder just said all the @umichwbball players wrote @CaitlinClark22 a note tonight. Unbelievable class from an opponent.
— Holly Rowe (@sportsiren) February 16, 2024
However, basketball fans were perplexed by that revelation. They seemingly understood what Michigan was trying to do by writing the letters (it’s a very classy gesture) but could not wrap their minds around writing a letter to an opponent they knew would drop historic buckets on them.
Here’s what fans had to say:
(Warning: NSFW language.)
is this big ten protocol? https://t.co/FLAVKpCIgt
— Mitchell Northam (@primetimeMitch) February 16, 2024
Athletes today are different. Huge accomplishment by CC. But the competitor in me wouldn’t allow me to sit down & write a damn letter/nice remark 🤷🏾♀️. She broke history AGAINST yall, what are we doing? Lol https://t.co/gikYHs9EaR
— LoLo (@LoLoByke) February 16, 2024
https://t.co/GZo1c15hia pic.twitter.com/UnvGjQTs3F
— Lo Dreher ✨ (@BiggggLo_) February 16, 2024
a letter? https://t.co/xXTihyOasO pic.twitter.com/qHEA7pCDie
— tori (@victoria_grace3) February 16, 2024
https://t.co/vFqnM39KCz pic.twitter.com/CohjZwHrJS
— cc andrews (@c_andrews21) February 16, 2024
Writing your opponent a note before she breaks the all-time scoring record against you? Wack. I mean, you might as well forfeit the game before it’s played while you’re at it. https://t.co/diR0h68ztP pic.twitter.com/iNCxPWwgjX
— Grant Dowling (@GrantHDowling) February 16, 2024
Someday we’ll have a conversation about the importance of competitive fire in women’s sports … but today is apparently not that day https://t.co/WXhTbLvmVl
— Sara Ziegler (@SaraMZiegler) February 16, 2024
That’s some nerd stuff I’m sorry https://t.co/gS1MndNdrJ
— Ashtyn Butuso (@lil_buts) February 16, 2024
A gift & a letter in return for 49 on your head is actually hilarious lol
— Tyler Marsh (@hoop4thought) February 16, 2024
Lolol couldn’t be me. i’ma stat nerd too, in college I used to be in the lockerroom like “shawty need 10 pts, NOT TONIGHTTTT!!”
— Imani McGee-Stafford, JD (@imanitrishawn_) February 16, 2024
A LETTER?? that’s lame af. pic.twitter.com/7a6BbkxFCE
— Sir B. Terrell (@itsBTerrell) February 16, 2024
