The Chicago Sky’s Diamond DeShields found herself in the eye of a social media storm following a controversial play against Indiana Fever star rookie Caitlin Clark.
The viral moment sparked outrage among fans, with one troll crossing the line by making an offensive comment about DeShields’ past health struggles.
In Friday’s heated matchup, DeShields made headlines for a flagrant foul that sent Clark crashing to the floor.
During the fourth quarter of the Fever’s 100-81 win, DeShields fouled Clark twice within 40 seconds. The second foul, where DeShields barreled into Clark during a transition play, was deemed a flagrant 1.
Clark capitalized on the foul by sinking two free throws, pushing her to a career-high 31 points and marking the first 30-point, 12-assist game in WNBA history.
Trolls have no boundaries
But the drama didn’t end on the court. Following the game, DeShields shared a disturbing screenshot of a troll’s message that read, “That tumor should’ve took her out.” This shocking comment referenced DeShields’ 2020 battle with a grape-sized benign tumor on her spinal cord, which required surgery and a painful recovery that threatened her career and even her ability to walk.
The Sky guard, who has always shown resilience both on and off the court, responded with grace.
“Thank you God for covering me,” she posted, “I pray u cover those who wish harm unto me as well.”
DeShields’s classy response garnered support from fans and fellow players, many of whom praised her strength in the face of adversity.
Chicago has badly mistreated Clark
This isn’t the first time tensions have flared between the Sky and Caitlin Clark. Earlier this season, Sky’s Chennedy Carter ignited controversy with a shoulder check on Clark that also led to a backlash.
Additionally, Angel Reese, another Sky star, delivered a hard foul on Clark in a different game, adding fuel to an already fiery rivalry.
Clark, who is a frontrunner for Rookie of the Year, has become a lightning rod for attention in her debut WNBA season.
But with that attention comes scrutiny, particularly in matchups with the Chicago Sky.
The two teams wrapped up their regular-season series on Friday, with the Fever winning 3-1, but the tension between these players is unlikely to fade anytime soon.
As the season progresses, all eyes will be on how the Sky and Fever continue their heated rivalry-and how DeShields continues to rise above the noise.
