Caitlin Clark’s fellow WNBA rookie Cameron Brink has backed the No. 1 overall Draft pick amid the backlash she’s faced during her start to life within the league.

The former Iowa star has endured a rollercoaster start to her WNBA career, including scrutiny over her race, sexuality and performance.

Most recently, Clark was brutally bodychecked by Chennedy Carter during her Indiana Fever team’s loss to Chicago Sky on Saturday. She only managed three points in the following game against the New York Liberty Sunday.  

However, Brink, who faced Clark during the May 24 game between the Indiana Fever and LA Sparks which was billed as the matchup of the No. 1 and No. 2 picks, slammed the narrative that pitted veterans against rookies.

The 22-year-old insisted that there was too much pressure on the rookie class to perfectly adjust to professional life.

Cameron Brink (right) has defended Caitlin Clark (center) amid recent WNBA controversy

Cameron Brink (right) has defended Caitlin Clark (center) amid recent WNBA controversy

Brink was drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks with the No. 2 overall pick in April's Draft

Brink was drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks with the No. 2 overall pick in April’s Draft

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‘The most tired narrative is that the vets are against the rookies — this old-school versus new-school narrative — and the narrative that the rookies need to be perfect,’ Brink told UPROXX in a recent interview.

‘I feel like Caitlin Clark has that the worst right now, but even I get that. She had three points the other night [against New York on June 2]. I had three points the other night [against Indiana on May 28]. We’re expected to be perfect.

‘We were drafted to high-drafting teams coming off of losing seasons, which is fine. It’s a learning process. But people expect us to be perfect, and it’s freaking exhausting.

‘I feel like we learn how to tune it out, but still, it’s unrealistic, and it kind of just shows that people don’t know basketball.’

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Saturday’s incident against the Sky sparked a widespread debate on if Clark was being targeted for her race, as well as the attention she is getting in her rookie season.

However, critics have previously claimed Clark is receiving more positive attention than other WNBA stars due to being white and straight. 

Brink, Steph Curry’s godsister, admitted that she, along with Clark, does receive a certain privilege because of the way she looks compared to some of her LA teammates.

‘I could go way deeper into this, but I would just say growing the fan base to support all types of players,’ she added.

Brink acknowledged that she receives certain privilege because of the way she looks

Brink acknowledged that she receives certain privilege because of the way she looks

Clark was inexplicably bodychecked to the ground by Chicago Sky's Chennedy Carter

Clark was inexplicably bodychecked to the ground by Chicago Sky’s Chennedy Carter

Chennedy Carter bodychecks Caitlin Clark while Angel Reese cheers

‘I will acknowledge there’s a privilege for the younger white players of the league. That’s not always true, but there is a privilege that we have inherently, and the privilege of appearing feminine.

‘Some of my teammates are more masculine. Some of my teammates go by they/them pronouns. I want to bring more acceptance to that and not just have people support us because of the way that we look.

‘I know I can feed into that because I like to dress femininely, but that’s just me. I want everyone to be accepted — not just paid attention to because of how they look.’

Clark’s rise in popularity through college has carried over to the pro ranks with an increase in attention to the WNBA widely attributed to her.

The 22-year-old faces off against fellow rookie, Chicago Sky's Angel Reese (left)

The 22-year-old faces off against fellow rookie, Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese (left)

But that’s come with a number of people who have criticized that rise due to Clark’s skin color and what some are calling ‘pretty privilege’.

On an episode of The View last month, contributor Sunny Hostin said she believes that Clark was much more marketable because she’s more relatable – meaning she’s white, straight, and benefits from ‘pretty privilege’.

Former SportsCenter host and current Atlantic writer Jemele Hill holds a similar view, and told the LA Times, ‘We would all be very naive if we didn’t say race and her sexuality played a role in her popularity.’

However, others such as NBA legend Charles Barkley and Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy have defended Clark from ‘petty women’.