Becky Hammon says what the whole world is thinking about Caitlin Clark drama

The WNBA is physical, but is it too physical without the proper repercussions? Becky Hammon seems to think so, and I'm inclined to agree with her. Ahead of their matchup with the Las Vegas Aces, Hammon spoke to reporters, revealing her thoughts about the current climate around Caitlin Clark and what the young star has to put up with.

People are also tired of watching it, and that needs to be taken into account. The WNBA's increased popularity means more eyeballs, which means more scrutiny. That's the phase we're in right now. Most of the fans who have been around for a long time shout you down when you question the physicality in the sport, claiming it's always been that way. Well, it's time for a change.

The WNBA must protect their players

This isn't just about Caitlin Clark. She just happens to be the vehicle for change that needs to happen for this league to get to another level. It's just not as clean as it should be. I went to a WNBA game recently, and it was alarming how often someone was peeling themselves off the floor after a reckless collision that wasn't necessary.

An older generation of NBA fans will complain that the game has gotten soft. The aggressive nature of defenses was common for almost every team in the league back then. But the fact of the matter is that the Men's league has never been more popular than it is now. They've adjusted the rules to be stricter on defenses.

The restriction of movement isn't fun to watch, and charging into another player isn't defense. The fouls need to be called more, and the defense needs to be taught better. These women are elite athletes. They can play good defense without fouling all the time. The Valkyries showed that when they defeated this team. There were no dirty plays in that game.

CC may get it worse than other players, as Hammon alluded to, but she's not completely without fault. Clark is one of, if not the most, antagonizing stars in the sport. Not only does her style of play embarrass you when she goes crazy, but she'll tell you about it all game. There's nothing wrong with that. It's that competitive fire combined with her unique playstyle that's made her such a popular figure.

However, two things can be true. If you poke the bears, they are going to try and eat you. It's the referees' job to ensure things don't go too far, though. We know how pro leagues feel about criticizing the refs, so hopefully, Becky doesn't get fined for this. She was just telling a truth that needed to be told by someone with a strong enough voice to force people to listen.