“Is This Malice at the Palace 2.0?”: Amid Caitlin Clark Getting “Targeted” Narrative, Fans Recall Candace Parker’s Rookie Season

The ‘L’ in Los Angeles can very well stand for ‘legendary’. The city has seen multiple stars come and go through it, but in the WNBA, no one really stood close to Candace Parker. More importantly, no one believed that anyone could come close to her iconic rookie season when she won the MVP (!!). However, the introduction of Caitlin Clark into women’s basketball initiated some comparative talks. But now that the first overall pick is facing disadvantages on the physical front, seemingly getting targeted by other players, seasoned basketball fans are bringing back the 3x WNBA champion into the conversation.

Recently, many videos have popped up for Parker that prove to the new fans how almost all the greats have faced the roughest paths in the WNBA. In fact, the former NFL star Kerry Rhodes and Fox Sports Radio analyst Dan Beyer too agreed that all the rookies have to go through a sort of ‘ride or pass’ ritual. Hence, keeping in point one of the brightest rookie seasons in the WNBA and giving the example of how Candace Parker was treated, many are trying to shut the false narrative of hating Caitlin Clark down.

One fan posted a video on their X account showing a clip of Parker getting roughed up by Plenette Pierson of the Detroit Shock. They captioned the tweet, “Y’all wasn’t around. This was Candace Parker’s rookie season.”

However, instead of breaking down, Parker simply picks a fight with Pierson. Consequently, both the teams separated the two hoopers. As a result, the basketball fans completely forgot about Caitlin Clark and focused on the 7x WNBA All-Star.

Fans remind the league about their first superstar before the Caitlin Clark era

Every once in a while, there comes a stellar talent who changes the face of the league a little. In 2024, it is Caitlin Clark. Similarly, in the 2000’s it was Candace Parker. When the fan showed what the mother of two had to go through in her rookie year, fans could not help but jump to the comment section in awe. One fan took the X users back to the year 2004.

Then, arguably the biggest brawls in the NBA’s history occurred between the Indiana Pacers and the Detroit Pistons at The Palace in Auburn Hills. Record fines and suspensions were handed out and the security was tightened following the infamous incident. Watching how the Sparks’ rookie had to tackle the Detroit Shocks’ Pierson, the fan asked if that was the second version of the same.

“Is this “malice at the palice 2.0″?”

One basketball follower also posted a video of Candace Parker talking about her first experience of the WNBA. They captioned the tweet, “Lots of talk about WNBA rookies but don’t forget the greatest rookie season the W has ever seen. Candace Parker for our Sparks. ROY & MVP in the same year, joining Wilt & Wes Unseld as the only players ever to do that in American professional.”

Another fan slithered their way into the conversation. They pointed out that the clip starts with Shock’s head coach Bill Laimbeer. Before becoming a coach, he was part of the infamous Bad Boy Detroit Pistons of the late 80s. Hence, even in the clip, Laimbeer is only watching the athletes get at each other instead of trying to break the fight. Did this point to his Piston days? Kind of!

“This clip starting with Bill is incredibly on brand.”

However, despite keeping the conversation about Candace Parker, some Caitlin Clark fans jumped in to put their views. One X user commented on how the Fever coach and franchise are trying to keep Caitlin Clark in a different light. They also accused them of not doing the same for their 2023 overall first pick, Aliyah Boston. Contrastingly, Christie Sides has mentioned that they have been sending Clark’s clips for uncalled fouls to the league. Something they did for the Gamecocks’ star Boston as well.

“Indiana Fever’s coach and GM are protecting Caitlyn in a way that they didn’t do for Aliyah Boston.”

One follower also commented how Candace Parker intentionally picked up fights in her rookie year. Seemingly, they were pointing at the fact that the first female dunker liked to be physical at the college level. However, in the professional league, she got a reply back. Just like the Shocks did.

“I was so happy somebody gave it back to CP. She was always getting in the most random players faces in college”

It is refreshing to see how Candace Parker tackled her opponents. Maybe Caitlin Clark too needs to do something like it. However, while the league continues to be physical still, there is a set of rules that every player needs to follow. Probably, her teammates can stand beside her as many former professional players like Matt Barnes have been pointing out.