Caitlin Clark and Iowa suffered a disappointing loss to Ohio St

Iowa came up short in an exciting game against the BuckeyesLAPRESSE

Iowa women’s basketball standout Caitlin Clark found herself being escorted to the locker room following an unexpected collision with an excited Ohio State fan storming the court. The incident unfolded amidst the chaotic celebration that erupted after Ohio State secured a narrow 100-92 victory over the Hawkeyes on Sunday.

A video initially shared on Twitter captured the tense moments as Clark, visibly shaken, was assisted off the court by team staff. The footage shed light on the potential risks associated with post-game celebrations, where fans and players converge in an uncontrolled environment.

The game itself was a spectacle, showcasing exceptional skill and determination from both teams. However, the exuberance of the post-game celebration took a concerning turn as fans flooded the court. In the midst of the revelry, a collision occurred between a fan and Clark, necessitating assistance for her exit from the court.

Caitlin Clark injury after the Ohio State game… pic.twitter.com/uLwtBmxF99

— DadsDontPlay (@Dadsdontplay) January 21, 2024

Clark spoke to the media after the incident

Reflecting on the incident, Clark commented on the atmosphere at the Schottenstein Center, acknowledging the excitement of the game.

“Kind of scary … it knocked the wind out of me, but thankfully my teammates picked me up and got me off the court. And their AD (athletic director) already came and apologized to me. You know, it comes with the territory. I’m sure they try their best to do whatever they could, but obviously it didn’t work, and that’s disappointing. Just focused now on the game, ways we can get better,” said Clark.

This incident has sparked discussions about the safety protocols in place during such celebrations. Some responses to the video questioned whether court-storming should be prohibited if Clark had suffered a serious injury. While court-storming is a longstanding tradition in sports, there is growing concern about its potential to compromise the safety of players and staff.

Caitlin Clark says she’s ok now after getting blindsided by a fan trying to storm the court. She fell hard and mentioned she got the wind knocked out of her. pic.twitter.com/V8SzpsCDMU

— Kellyanne Stitts (@KellyanneStitts) January 21, 2024

“We gotta do something about the court storms, guys,” expressed Painter, as reported by Matt Galatzan of Sports Illustrated. “I just don’t know why institutions aren’t ready for it. Like, what did you think was gonna happen if they won? Spread the word. Spread the word before somebody gets hurt.”