Caitlin Clark gets annoyed and responds ANGRYLY when Fever coach asks for $500,000 pay cut đ – “You get $100!”
The Indiana Feverâs locker room was electric. The echo of their 74-59 victory over the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA Commissionerâs Cup Final still rang through the halls of the arena, and the scent of triumphâmixed with Gatorade and adrenalineâhung in the air. For the first time in franchise history, the Fever had secured the Commissionerâs Cup, and with it, a cool $500,000 prize to be split among the players.
But as the confetti settled and the feverish celebration began, an unexpected moment unfolded that would soon go viral. It wasnât a buzzer-beater, or a tearful speech from a veteran. Instead, it was a playful exchange between head coach Stephanie White and rookie sensation Caitlin Clarkâone that would capture the hearts (and laughter) of basketball fans everywhere.
The Build-Up: Stakes, Injuries, and Motivation
The Feverâs journey to the Commissionerâs Cup Final had been anything but easy. Injuries had plagued the roster, none more impactful than the groin strain that sidelined Caitlin Clark, the teamâs rookie phenom and the WNBAâs most talked-about newcomer. Clark, who had missed the previous two games, was ruled out just hours before tip-off, much to the disappointment of fans and teammates alike.
But if anyone thought her absence would diminish the Feverâs spirit or their resolve, they were mistaken. âThe $500,000 prize money was a huge motivator for us,â Coach White admitted in a pre-game interview. âItâs life-changing money for these women. They work so hard, and to have something tangible to fight for, itâs special.â
The Game: Fever Find a Way
Without Clarkâs sharpshooting and court vision, the Fever leaned on a collective effort. Veteran guard Kelsey Mitchell poured in 22 points, while Aliyah Boston dominated the paint with a double-double. The Feverâs defense stifled the Lynx, holding them to just 59 pointsâa season low.
As the final buzzer sounded, the Fever bench erupted. Players hugged, danced, and some even cried. For a franchise that had struggled in recent years, this was a moment of redemption. The $500,000 prize wasnât just a number; it was validation for the hours spent in empty gyms, for the sacrifices made away from families, and for the belief that this team was building something special.
The Viral Moment: âYou Get $100!â
Amid the jubilation, cameras caught a lighthearted exchange that would soon become the talk of social media. Coach Stephanie White, grinning ear-to-ear, approached her players with open arms. She hugged guard Sydney âSidâ Coulson and, with a mischievous glint in her eye, declared, âGive me a cut!â
The players burst into laughter, but it was Caitlin Clarkâwatching from the sidelines in street clothesâwho delivered the line that would steal the show. Without missing a beat, Clark shot back, âYou get $100!â
The locker room erupted. Even White doubled over with laughter, shaking her head in mock indignation. âThatâs all I get?â she teased, pointing at Clark. âYouâre lucky youâre cute!â
The exchange, captured on a smartphone and quickly uploaded to social media, spread like wildfire. Within hours, the clip had been viewed hundreds of thousands of times, with fans and commentators praising Clarkâs quick wit and the teamâs infectious chemistry.
The Breakdown: Who Gets What?
While the moment was all in good fun, it did raise a question: how exactly would the $500,000 prize be divided?
Under Commissionerâs Cup rules, the prize money is distributed exclusively among the players on the winning teamâs active roster. With 12 players suiting up for the Fever, each would receive approximately $41,667 before taxesâa substantial bonus, especially considering the WNBAâs relatively modest salaries.
Clark, despite missing the final due to injury, was still eligible for her share. It was bittersweet; sheâd contributed mightily to the teamâs Cup run but had to watch the championship from the bench. Still, her teammates made sure she was included in every celebration, and her good-natured banter with Coach White was proof that her presence loomed large even off the court.
In addition to the cash prize, each of the 24 players who participated in the final (from both teams) received $5,000 in cryptocurrencyâa nod to the leagueâs partnership with a leading crypto sponsor. For many, it was their first foray into digital assets, leading to a flurry of jokes about âHODLingâ and checking the price of Bitcoin between drills.
Coaches, as it turned out, werenât eligible for any of the prize moneyâa fact that White lamented with a wink and a nudge. âGuess Iâll have to start a GoFundMe,â she joked in the postgame press conference, drawing more laughs from the assembled media.
The Aftermath: Laughter, Legacy, and a Lesson
As the Feverâs celebration continued late into the night, the story of Clarkâs âYou get $100!â quip became a symbol of the teamâs camaraderie. In a league often overshadowed by its NBA counterpart, moments like these reminded fans why the WNBA matteredânot just for the basketball, but for the personalities, the stories, and the sense of community.
For Clark, it was another chapter in a rookie season already filled with highlights. Though sheâd missed the chance to play in the final, sheâd cemented her status as both a competitor and a characterâa player who could deliver clutch shots and clutch punchlines.
For White, it was a reminder of the bonds that make teams great. âThis group is special,â she said, reflecting on the season. âThey play for each other, they laugh together, and they lift each other up. Thatâs worth more than any prize money.â
And for the Fever, it was a night theyâd never forgetâa championship, a windfall, and a viral moment that captured the joy of the game, all wrapped up in a single, unforgettable exchange.
As the team posed for pictures with the Commissionerâs Cup trophy, Clark leaned over to White, a sly grin on her face. âSeriously though, CoachâVenmo or cash app?â
White just laughed, shaking her head. âJust keep making us proud, kid. Thatâs all the cut I need.â
The Fever had their title. Clark had her moment. And the WNBA had another story to tell.