India, Aug. 24 -- Indiana Fever is having an uphill climb, now that their star guard, Caitlin Clark, has missed 22 of the team's 35 games this regular season due to back-to-back injuries. The injury-addled patch has driven concern as well as sharp criticism from many corners, with Port's columnist and commentator, Skip Bayless lashing out at Clark.

In a recent post on social media, Bayless seemed to suggest that Clark's repeated absence from the games was part of a calculated Fever strategy rather than any genuine physical injury.

"Maybe Caitlin Clark has taken a couple of 'injury' breaks just because she needed a mental break from all the jealousy and resentment and bullying and cheap shots," Bayless wrote.

This suggestion drew a shar...