Caitlin Clark launches risky rant over ‘ridiculous’ technical foul as WNBA suspension looms
Caitlin Clark launches risky rant over ‘ridiculous’ technical foul as WNBA suspension looms
Caitlin Clark saved the Indiana Fever with 15 points in the second quarter alone on Monday night, dragging her team back from a 19-6 first-quarter deficit to an 86-77 victory over the Phoenix Mercury.
Then, in the postgame press conference, she did something that could cost her far more than the $1,000 fine already heading her way.
Clark called out the officiating by name.”It’s ridiculous,” she told reporters, visibly frustrated after being assessed her fifth technical foul of the WNBA season during a chaotic fourth-quarter melee. It comes after Angel Reese and Clark both appeared visibly frustrated by the officiating during the Dream and Fever’s matchup last week.
“I got a technical for clapping. We should all just go on the calendar now and pick a game that I’m gonna be suspended for if I’m gonna get technicals for clapping.”
She identified official Gerda Gatling as the referee responsible for the call, a level of specificity that will almost certainly draw additional scrutiny from the league.
The WNBA suspends players after eight technical fouls in a regular season. Clark now has five, leaving her three away from sitting out a game.
The technical itself came during the fourth quarter with the Fever leading 73-54 and nearly eight minutes remaining.
Clark and former Indiana teammate DeWanna Bonner, who signed with Phoenix after being waived by the Fever a year ago and was loudly booed by the Gainbridge Fieldhouse crowd on her return, got into a confrontation in the paint following a personal foul on Clark.
Words were exchanged. Bonner attempted to walk away. Clark briefly followed before being intercepted by a referee.
Caitlin Clark and DeWanna Bonner were separated by a referee
What followed was a cascade. Alyssa Thomas and Myisha Hines-Allen became involved in a separate confrontation. Sophie Cunningham and Bonner exchanged finger-pointing that required players and officials to step between them.
By the time order was restored, five technical fouls had been assessed to Cunningham, Bonner, Clark, Thomas, and Hines-Allen, and Hines-Allen had been ejected after a second technical for pushing Thomas during the next possession.
Head coach Stephanie White acknowledged the moment without condoning it. “I felt like the officials did a good job after everything of getting it under control,” she said. “As a group, we have to be able to have our moment and then regroup and play with poise and composure. It can’t continue to go on.”
Clark finished with 24 points and 9 assists. The Fever play the Mercury again on Wednesday.
