Chiney Ogwumike reacts to WNBA’s Caitlin Clark suspension decision originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Caitlin Clark will be available for the Indiana Fever‘s next game after the WNBA rescinded a controversial technical foul that would have triggered an automatic one-game suspension.
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The decision drew support from former WNBA star and current ESPN analyst Chiney Ogwumike, who believed the league reached the correct conclusion after reviewing Clark’s brief contact with an official during Indiana’s win over the Chicago Sky.
Clark received what was initially ruled her eighth technical foul of the season late in the third quarter. However, the league later erased the call, returning her season total to seven and clearing her to play against the New York Liberty on Tuesday.
Chiney Ogwumike supports Caitlin Clark decision
The disputed moment occurred while Clark was attacking the basket. After absorbing contact from Natasha Cloud, the Fever guard lost her balance and stumbled toward the sideline, where she brushed against an official. Although the contact appeared incidental, Clark was assessed a technical foul.
The Fever star explained after the game that she did not intentionally make contact with the official. She also said she had not directed any comments toward the referee that would have warranted the penalty.
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During ESPN’s “WNBA Countdown” on Sunday, Ogwumike reviewed the play and found little reason for the initial call.
“There’s nothing there,” Ogwumike said.
She was also pleased that the league acted quickly to reverse the decision.
“I’m glad that they rescinded it because for that action being minimal, like a brush, this is what should have happened,” Ogwumike said. “And the right thing happened.”
The ruling carried significant consequences for both Clark and Indiana. Under WNBA rules, an eighth technical foul results in a $1,500 fine and an automatic one-game suspension. Every two additional technical fouls after that also lead to another suspension.
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Clark remains only one technical away from reaching that threshold.
MORE: Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell join exclusive WNBA list in Fever win
Fever avoid losing Clark for Liberty matchup
Indiana escaped Saturday’s game with more than just a favorable league review. The Fever defeated the Sky and improved to 20-12, moving back into fourth place in the WNBA standings.
Avoiding Clark’s suspension is especially important with the Liberty next on the schedule. New York remains one of the league’s most dangerous teams, and Indiana will need its All-Star guard available as it attempts to strengthen its playoff position.
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The episode also demonstrated the value of the league’s postgame review process. Officials made the call based on what they saw in real time, but video showed Clark’s contact with the referee was minimal and appeared to result directly from the action of the play.
That review prevented Indiana from losing one of its most important players over a technical foul that Ogwumike and the rest of ESPN’s panel agreed should never have stood.
Clark is not completely in the clear for the remainder of the season. With seven technical fouls still on her record, another incident could result in a suspension.
For Tuesday, however, the Fever can plan on having their star guard in the lineup.
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