The Indiana Fever outlasted the Phoenix Mercury 86-77 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Monday night, but not before the game descended into a chaotic scrum that resulted in five technical fouls and an ejection.
Fever All-Star guard Caitlin Clark was tagged with a technical foul for clapping, her fifth technical of the season — tied with Angel Reese for the most in the WNBA.
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“They said that Caitlin got it for clapping, so I guess that’s taunting,” Fever head coach Stephanie White said during her postgame presser.
Clark had a much more pointed message for the officials.
“Yeah, it’s ridiculous,” Clark said. “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. I asked [game official] Gerda [Gatling]. Gerda said that I got a technical for clapping, so if any technical should be taken away, it should be that one.”
The Athletic’s James Boyd asked Clark how “aware” she will have to be moving forward of avoiding technicals. Eight technical fouls triggers an automatic one-game suspension.
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“I mean, I’m gonna play with emotion, I’m gonna play with passion, and if they’re gonna give me a technical foul for clapping, then so be it,” Clark said. “That’s their choice. The league can come back and review that play, and I’d love to hear what they say.”
Clark doesn’t have to worry about getting suspended just yet, but after those comments, she’ll probably receive a fine in short order.
The good news for Clark is that there is a very recent precedent for this exact situation that plays in her favor. Dallas Wings All-Star guard Paige Bueckers received a technical for clapping against Atlanta on May 22, and the WNBA rescinded it by May 24.
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Clark finished Monday’s win with 24 points, nine assists, and three rebounds. It marks her sixth straight game with at least 20 points and five rebounds — the longest such streak in WNBA history, per espnW.
The Fever (10-7) and Mercury (5-13) are set for a rematch back at Gainbridge on Wednesday.
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