Former NBA All-Star says Fever must sign 'enforcer' to 'protect' Kaitlyn Clark from players hitting her

The Indiana Fever will be playing in the WNBA playoffs for the first time since 2016 and for the first time under head coach Caitlin Clark. The 22-year-old rookie has broken some league records over the past month, making the Fever one of the hottest teams in the WNBA.

Indiana is currently sitting in the top six of the playoff picture, and Clark's supporting cast of Aaliyah Boston, Nalyssa Smith and Kelsey Mitchell have also been playing the best games of their careers recently.

But the former NBA All-Star argues the team is not yet complete and is missing key pieces.

Many of the new fans Clark brought to the WNBA have been highly critical of the numerous flagrant fouls and other questionable hits that have been made against her this year. In just four games against the rival Chicago Sky, Clark was called for three different flagrant fouls by three different players, sparking an intense backlash from fans on social media.

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Clarke has avoided major injuries and continued to play like an MVP candidate despite taking hits, but according to former NBA All-Star Joakim Noah, the team needs to address that issue in the offseason by signing players who can counter teams that are too physical for Clarke.

“If I was the owner of the Indiana Fever, I'd hire a real enforcer to protect her,” Noah told Fox News Digital during an interview on “NBA Night” at the Emirates Suite at the U.S. Open in New York on Wednesday.

Noah acknowledged that Clark may be coming under fire from opposing players because they know he has the talent to make a difference on the court.

“I feel like sometimes she's under attack because she's such a talented person,” he said, “but at the end of the day, we're in the business to win games. So if I were the owner (of the Indiana Fever), I'd have a true enforcer there.”

Many WNBA rookie and longtime fans have been harsh in their criticism of opposing teams attacking Clark. Sky rookie Angel Reese, who hit Clark in the head with her arm while trying to block a pass during a June 16 game, opened up on a podcast Thursday about attacks from Clark fans that date back to her college days. Fellow Sky player Diamond DeShields committed a flagrant 1 foul on Clark during an Aug. 30 game, knocking the rookie to the floor, and later posted about the hateful comments she received on Instagram.

Former NBA All-Star explains why he chose Angel Reese over Caitlin Clark for Rookie of the Year award

Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter (left) wrestles with Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark during a game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 1 in Indianapolis. (Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

But Noah believes the physical treatment Clark received has been great for the WNBA.

“I think it's great,” Noah said when asked specifically about the foul that occurred against Chicago. “I think it's all entertainment.”

ESPN announcer Holly Rowe echoed Noah's sentiments in an interview with Fox News Digital last month.

“I think it's good for the sport,” Rowe said. “I love salty things. That's why it's competitive, it's a sport.”

Indiana Fever player Caitlin Clark reacts to a flagrant foul committed by Chicago Sky player Diamond DeShields at Wintrust Arena in Chicago on August 30. (Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

But even with the entertainment value of the hit, Noah argues the Fever should address the problem as soon as possible by bringing in an enforcer-type fighter — a role he knows all too well.

Noah was a sophomore player with the Chicago Bulls in 2008 when the team selected star point guard Derrick Rose with the first overall pick. Like Clark, Rose was a rookie who stunned the league with his talent, but was often manhandled by opposing veterans, getting taken to the floor dozens of times, especially as he drove to the basket.

Noah was one of Rose's longtime teammates on the Bulls and was often vocal in his defense when the pair joined the Knicks in 2016.

But Noah has also been on the other side of physical play against transcendentally talented opponents.

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Joakim Noah (center) of the Chicago Bulls reacts to a block by LeBron James of the Miami Heat during the first half of the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs at AmericanAirlines Arena on May 6, 2013 in Miami. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune/MCT)

As the team's defensive anchor at center, Noah gradually became one of Chicago's most provocative players, especially when facing off against superstar LeBron James. During his time with the Bulls, Noah played in 21 playoff games against James' Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat teams, and became notorious for committing fouls and standing up and yelling in James' face, resulting in numerous altercations that required referees to step in and separate the two players.

Not only that, but Noah also made it a priority to tell the rest of his teammates not to treat James differently because of his talent.

“I feel like guys are enamored by it and it just frustrates me because I know he has fans on the court. So if I saw one of my teammates having that kind of energy towards him, I was the guy to be like, 'You better stop that damn thing right now.' So that was my role. Everybody thinks I hate it,” Noah said from his suite, where he was promoting Emirates, the Official Global Airline Partner of the NBA and the inaugural title partner of the Emirates NBA Cup.

So Noah, who has experience on both sides of the situation, believes it's a position the Fever is sorely lacking right now.

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