Former WNBA All-Star Chiney Ogwumike went viral on Monday after she insisted that the hate on Caitlin Clark is not real, adding the the recent cheap shot at the Indiana Fever rookie is just plain competitiveness. However, many fans argue otherwise.

For those not in the know, the treatment on Clark has been a hot topic recently after the Fever sharpshooter was shoulder-checked by Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter during Saturday’s showdown.

The incident further fueled the narrative that WNBA vets are jealous of Clark for all the attention she’s getting.

Ogwumike, however, refused to buy into the buzz and claimed that what Carter did and the physicality that Clark is experiencing in the league isn’t “hate” at all.

“The WNBA has always been [physical]… Caitlin Clark was talking, and in this league, no one backs down to trash talk… They should bow down instead of being the competitors that they are… This is not hate,” Ogwumike explained.

However, fans were quick to refute that claim, especially since Carter’s attack on Clark was clearly a dirty and non-basketball play. The Sky vet actually hit the Fever rising star from the back, causing her to fall. Clark was not even holding the ball during the play and was simply standing on the court.

While there was some trash-talking between Clark and Carter prior to the play, the hit certainly wasn’t warranted.

“It’s Hate bro y’all lying,” a critic shared. Another one argued, “Competitors don’t hit people in the back. They hit them in the front.”

A commenter added, “I feel like it is hate imo but I could be wrong. Seems like CC is getting trash talked and attacked more than anyone else. Could the media be propping this up a lot more to make it seem like it’s bigger than it actually is ? Perhaps. No clue. I don’t really watch WNBA to know. I do feel bad for CC though because some of the “physicality” seems unnecessary and it leads me to believe players are doing this stuff to her because they are jealous and has all the media attention.

A fourth social media user noted that it’s not only Clark who’s experiencing it but also Sky rookie Angel Reese: “Watching what was done to Angel Reese and Caitlin I came to a realization that majority of veterans are jealous of all the attention rookies are getting.. more prominently Caitlin but also Angel.”

Regardless of whether it’s competitiveness or not, it’s definitely not a good thing for the WNBA. Instead of getting the opportunity to showcase the talent of the players in the league, much of the conversation now is about Clark vs. everyone else.

Hopefully, though, the league will be able to address the issue.