The Indiana Fever had high hopes entering the 2024 WNBA season after taking Iowa superstar Caitlin Clark with the No. 1 overall pick. However, the popular WNBA franchise is 0-5 to start the year.

Clark continues to improve her game, having scored 21 points to go along with seven rebounds and seven assists in her latest outing. But the Fever dropped their fifth straight game in an 85-83 loss to the Seattle Storm.

The Fever have a chance to win their first game of the season on Friday night vs. the Los Angeles Sparks (1-2). Aliyah Boston will be matched up with Cameron Brink, the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft behind Clark.

Indiana Fever coach Christie Sides addressed the media on Friday morning during her team’s shootaround. In doing so, she made a heartbreaking personal announcement about Clark and Boston and how they’ve been treated by fans so far this season.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) walks onto the court prior to the game against the New York Liberty at Barclays Center.

© Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Sides said that Clark and Boston are getting nonstop hate and “vile” language directed their way on a consistent basis.

The Fever coach is requesting that fans show them grace, as Clark has requested multiple times before, as Indiana tries to get things figured out.

“The hate and the vile language directed to these players. these guys are showing up every day doing their job, trying to learn each other, trying to get better,” Sides said on Friday morning, via Nick Hamilton on X.  “And for them to have to deal with that, after coming every day and giving their all in their job. It’s just not fair.”

She added, “Caitlin uses the word ‘grace’ a lot. Like, give them some grace. Give these guys some grace. They deserve it.”

The Fever battle the Sparks tonight at 10 p.m. ET.