After Indiana’s (10-7) 86-77 win over Phoenix (5-13) on Monday night, Caitlin Clark blasted the game’s officials over their decision to call a technical foul on the former Hawkeye as a result of a third-quarter scurmish involving Clark and ex-Fever teammate DeWanna Bonner.
Early in the fourth quarter, Clark got tangled up with Bonner, who left the Fever under controversial circumstances last season. Alyssa Thomas, Bonner’s teammate, then got involved in an intense pushing and finger-pointing match with Insiana Sophie Cunningham and Myisha Hines-Allen. After reviewing the situation, the officials handed out techs to Cunningham, Hines-Allen, Bonner, Thomas, and Clark.
The decision now gives Clark five technical fouls accrued in 16 games this season, tying her with Angel Reese for the most in the league. According to the WNBA’s disciplinary measures for accrued technical fouls, players are automatically suspended for one game after reaching eight technical fouls in a season. This one-game suspension also occurs for every two infractions earned after the eighth technical foul.
“I got a technical for clapping. We should all just go on the calendar now and pick a game that I’m going to be suspended for if I’m gonna get technicals for clapping,” Clark said. “I asked Gerda (official during Monday’s game), and Gerda said that I got a technical for clapping. So, if any technical should be taken away, it should be that one. If it’s truly for clapping, that’s what they said they gave it to me for was for clapping. It’s just ridiculous, so I don’t understand it at all.”
“I’m gonna play with emotion, I’m gonna play with passion, and if they’re going to give me a technical foul for clapping, then so be it. That’s their choice,” Clark continued in her displeasure with the official’s decision. “The league can come back and review that play, and I’d love to hear what they say of the reasoning of why I got the technical foul in that situation … I said ‘Why’d you get me a technical foul?’ and she said because I was clapping and instigating. I said, ‘OK then, you just don’t like competitive basketball,’ and that’s just facts, that’s just reality. So, I’m disappointed in them.”
In her WNBA career, Clark has never been suspended, but she has come close to the technical-foul limit before, receiving six infractions during her 2024 rookie season, when the limit was seven technical fouls.
The WNBA is currently reviewing Clark’s technical from Monday’s game for potential rescission if it believes the decision was unwarranted. If it gets rescinded, she will be back down to four technicals for the season. However, head coach Stephanie White said in her postgame availability that Clark will have to be aware of her emotions with 27 games remaining.
“I mean, she’s got to be aware, certainly,” White said. “I think there are some that we could do without, there are natural things that happen, the energy of the game creates when you do get those, but there are some that we can be a little bit more in control. So, yes, we’ll continue to remind her, and I think she has to have an awareness.”
Clark and the Fever will clash against the Mercury for the second consecutive game from Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Wednesday night, with tipoff set for 6:30 p.m. on USA Network.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Caitlin Clark rips referees after latest technical foul vs. Mercury
Reporting by Scout Springgate, Hawkeyes Wire / Hawkeyes Wire
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By Scout Springgate, Hawkeyes Wire | USA TODAY Network
