Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark has picked up her eighth technical foul of the season, meaning she will be assessed an automatic one-game suspension if the call isn’t rescinded by the league.
Clark received the technical with 1:06 remaining in the third quarter in the Fever’s 90-86 road win over the Chicago Sky on Saturday, Aug. 8, as the Fever led 69-60. While dribbling along the baseline, Clark appeared to lose handle of the ball after Sky guard Natasha Cloud bumped Clark under the basket. The contact, which didn’t result in a foul for Cloud, sent Clark out of bounds into a nearby official. Clark was then teed up by the referee.
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Officials explained to the Fever that Clark was called for a technical foul for making “excessive contact with a forearm,” ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe said on the ABC broadcast.
Under WNBA rules, a player or coach is automatically suspended for one game upon receiving their eighth technical foul during the regular season. Every two additional techs received during the regular season will result in an additional one-game suspension.
But the WNBA has the option to rescind the technical, which appears likely. The contact between Clark and the official appeared to be accidental and instead looked to be the result of momentum carrying Clark into the official after Cloud bumped her.
If the technical foul stands, Clark will be suspended for the Fever’s matchup against the New York Liberty on Aug. 11.
Earlier in the game, Sky forward DiJonai Carrington was assessed a flagrant 2 foul and ejected from the game after colliding at the basket with Sophie Cunningham and getting into a heated confrontation with the Fever guard.
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The incident occurred with about two minutes left to play in the first quarter of the nationally televised game on ABC. Cunningham was charging toward the basket on a fast break and elevated for a layup attempt when Carrington fouled her from behind — her left forearm knocking Cunningham across the face — causing Cunningham to crash to the floor.
After the ball fell through the hoop, Cunningham got up and she and Carrington grabbed each other and began exchanging words.
Caitlin Clark technical fouls this season
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Wednesday, May 13:Clark was whistled for her first technical foul of the season vs. the Los Angeles Sparks for arguing an offensive foul as the Fever were heading to the locker room for halftime. After the Fever’s 87-78 victory, Clark took responsibility for the tech and praised the officials: “The refs are doing a tremendous job. I deserved the technical they gave me. It’s great for the game, they are going to keep the hands off, they are going to make the play be good.”
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Monday, May 22: Clark and the Golden State Valkyries‘ Janelle Salaün were called for offsetting technicals after a dustup under the basket as the halftime buzzer rang. Clark appeared to swat at the ball and caught Salaün’s arm. Salaün responded with an elbow before they were both separated and rung up. Clark was also called for a Flagrant Foul 1 for setting a hard screen on Veronica Burton in the fourth.
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Thursday, June 11: In the Fever’s 114-106 overtime win over the Chicago Sky, Clark emphatically swung her arm in the air toward the referee after no foul was called on her driving layup attempt. Clark said the technical was “definitely deserved” and added to the team’s momentum. “I wanted it,” she said.
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Sunday, July 18: Clark was called for a technical foul in the Fever’s 106-81 win over the New York Liberty after running into a screen with 8:29 remaining in the first quarter and yelling at the referee for not calling the play in her favor.
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Wednesday, July 22: Clark picked up her seventh technical foul in the Fever’s 123-88 win over the Connecticut Sun on Wednesday, July 22, following a back-and-forth exchange with Sun guard Saniya Rivers. Clark and Rivers were chirping at each other with 28.8 seconds remaining in the third quarter after Clark believed she was fouled by Rivers. As the two exchanged words, Clark told Rivers to “look at the scoreboard” as the Fever led 95-67. Rivers was also called for an offsetting technical.
Contributing: Mitchell Northam
Reach USA TODAY National Women’s Sports Reporter Cydney Henderson at chenderson@gannett.com and follow her on X at @CydHenderson.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Caitlin Clark picks up eighth technical of season vs. Sky, faces suspension
