WNBA Vet Responds to Vicious Blowback After Hard Foul on Caitlin Clark

Chicago Sky guard Diamond DeShields has faced a wave of hateful social media comments following her hard foul on Caitlin Clark last Friday.

DeShields was called for multiple fouls on Clark in the fourth quarter over a few-minute span and was clearly frustrated with the Sky down big.

The attention has been focused on the final foul. After a steal, DeShields bulldozed Clark at midcourt, sending her tumbling to the floor. After a review, the play was ruled a flagrant 1 on DeShields.

DeShields has been attacked on social media with hateful rhetoric that doesn't deserve repeating. She appeared to respond to the noise in an Instagram story.

"Thank you God for covering me," DeShields wrote in the post , which also featured a screenshot of a string of comments wishing her ill. "I pray u cover those who wish harm unto me as well."

Many have sent their well-wishes to DeShields amid the backlash.

"Sending love and light to Diamond DeShields this morning," Meghan L. Hall of USA Today said . "Her Instagram comments are full of people saying unimaginable things — things well past fouls or the game of basketball."

The backlash against DeShields intensified after the Chicago Sun-Times ran a cover featuring a photo of DeShields' hard foul on Clark, accompanied by the headline "Foul Ball." The article's author has distanced herself from the headline.

"Let me be crystal clear: I do not choose headlines or back page photos for the Sun-Times," Annie Costabile wrote on X . "The story I wrote was one about the Sky and Fever for that matter being two very different teams since the All-Star break."

The Sky are 11-20 and have lost five games in a row. Chicago is hanging on to the final playoff spot.

Related: Caitlin Clark Flattened by Hard Foul After Trash Talking Sky During Career Night