Caitlin Clark collided with a fan as Ohio State rushed the court after upsetting Iowa

Caitlin Clark was in obvious pain and had to be helped off the court following second-ranked Iowa’s 100-92 overtime loss to No. 15 Ohio State. It wasn’t because of anything that happened during the game.

Instead, it was a collision that occurred after Buckeye fans began to storm the court at Value City Arena.

Clark was jogging toward the tunnel to exit the court when the All-American crashed into a fan darting toward center court. Both hit the hardwood, and while each got up Clark would need help to make her way back to the visitor’s locker room.

Here’s how it looked from the stands:

Caitlin Clark injury after the Ohio State game… pic.twitter.com/uLwtBmxF99

— DadsDontPlay (@Dadsdontplay) January 21, 2024

And here it was on the televised broadcast.

For people that wondered why Caitlin Clark always has multiple cops around her when the game isn't going on– it's to protect her from morons like that.

Caitlin was in a lot of pain leaving the court:
pic.twitter.com/E17SeXYR7b

— David Eickholt (@DavidEickholt) January 21, 2024

Fortunately, Clark told the media she was OK in the Hawkeyes’ postgame press conference. She didn’t even seem to mind the court storming.

Caitlin Clark said it was a great atmosphere at the Schott. She said it was totally fine that Ohio State fans stormed the court but she was blindsided by a fan. She said she's okay and athletic director Gene Smith already came to apologize to her.

— Patrick Murphy (@_Pat_Murphy) January 21, 2024

We’ll see if this has any lasting effects in Big Ten policy — and if the conference aodpts a system of heavy fines for schools that allow fans to breach the court or field like the Southeastern Conference currently does. In the meantime, fans weren’t happy with the contact.