Following Ohio State’s 100-92 victory on Sunday, Iowa star Caitlin Clark found herself colliding with a Buckeyes fan on the court as OSU supporters rushed in to celebrate.
A video shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, captured Clark making her way towards the tunnel and encountering a fan amid the post-game court storming.
In her postgame press conference, Clark addressed the incident. This comes within two weeks of Purdue men’s basketball coach Matt Painter expressing the need for schools and the Big Ten to take additional measures to ensure the safety of players when fans storm the court. Painter clarified that he wasn’t opposed to the celebration but emphasized the importance of safeguarding players’ health.
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While the video of Caitlin is still under scrutiny, there are suggestions that she may have extended her arms. An alternative angle surfaced, revealing Caitlin pushing the fan, a response that could be seen as normal when faced with a shove.
Given Painter’s recent remarks and the incident in Columbus on Sunday, there may be growing pressure on the Big Ten to take action, possibly fueling discussions about banning court-storming altogether. This debate extends beyond basketball, with critics advocating for similar measures in football. The SEC has already implemented significant bans on schools whose fans storm the football field.
Despite the collision taking some focus away from the game, it was an intense matchup. Celeste Taylor’s late-game contribution put Ohio State ahead 83-82 in overtime, and the Buckeyes eventually secured the win despite Caitlin Clark’s outstanding performance, where she scored a season-high 45 points and added seven assists and two steals.
