Indiana Fever superstar Cailin Clark brings a winner’s mentality to the basketball court – and it sometimes landed the Rookie of the Year in hot water with a former coach

Kate Martin (L) and Caitlin Clark on the Fresh Tawk with Jade Gyamfi podcast

Former Iowa Hawkeyes coach Lisa Bluder had to give Caitlin Clark a timeout from practice due to her hot temper.

Indiana Fever sensation Clark has led a women’s basketball revolution and earned her team a playoff spot for the first time since 2016 in her rookie season. After impressing as one of the best college athletes of all time, the No.1 WNBA Draft pick stepped up in a big way to meet the standard at the professional level.

However, that level of competition comes with some cost considering past coaches and team-mates often felt Clark’s wrath. And the 22-year-old herself has explained how her feisty side can come across in the wrong way at times.

Speaking on the Fresh Tawk with Jade Gyamfi podcast, Clark and her fellow guests discussed her time with the Iowa Hawkeyes and some of their best stories from their college days. That led the Fever star to admit: “Coach Bluder kicking me out,” which came much to the surprise of fellow WNBA star Kate Martin.

Clark explained how the Hawkeyes would often be divided into two teams during practice, and she ended up being sent away from the rest of the group when tempers flared. “Mine was only because I would beef with the blue squad,” she continued. Clark allowed to return and participate in the next drill, though Bluder clearly felt her aggression was bubbling a little too high at the time.

It clearly didn’t have an adverse effect on the team’s performance, however, as Iowa reached back-to-back NCAA Championship games with her leading the charge. The Hawkeyes fell just short on each occasion, although that didn’t prevent Clark from being named the best college player in the United States both years.

AP Player of the Year Caitlin Clark #22 of the Iowa Hawkeyes poses with her award and head coach Lisa Bluder during a press conference ahead of the 2024 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Final Four

Clark achieved wonders under former Iowa Hawkeyes coach Lisa Bluder (Image: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Host Gyamfi empathised with Clark and confessed she too had been sent out of practice. “Only momentarily, though,” she clarified. “I was allowed back in.”

There was speculation former Iowa stalwart Bluder could be picked to replace Christie Sides as Fever coach after the latter was sacked. However, Stephanie White was ultimately chosen to return to the Indiana helm in the hopes she can optimise Clark’s obvious quality.

The generational guard is preparing for her sophomore season in the WNBA and is looking to fire Indiana to the top after an underwhelming first-round exit in this year’s play-offs. And being present for every training session is one way to boost those chances considerably.