July 23 (UPI) — Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark drew her seventh technical foul of the season in a blowout win over the Connecticut Sun, moving one away from a suspension.
Clark drew her latest technical in the third quarter of the 123-88 triumph Wednesday in Indianapolis. Her season total is tied with Atlanta Dream forward Atlanta Reese for the most in the WNBA.
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WNBA rules state that players who accrue eight technical fouls in one season receive a one-game ban. They receive additional one-game suspensions for every two technical fouls after they reach eight.
“I’m never going to back down,” Clark told reporters. “I think just continue to try to control your emotions the best you can. That intensity and that fire is what makes me me, but also knowing my team needs me and finding a good balance of that.
“But I don’t think I’m going to be playing with that in the back of my head. I think that might hinder my play a little bit.”
Clark totaled 27 points and 11 assists. She made 8 of 13 shots, including 5 of 9 attempts from 3-point range, over 27:01 of action.
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The Fever guard was fouled by guard Saniya Rivers with about 28 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Clark threw the ball to an official and Rivers waved her arms toward the Fever guard. Clark then repeated “scoreboard” toward Rivers, reminding her of the Fever’s 95-67 lead at the time.
“She said she was locking me up, so I said, ‘scoreboard,’ and the ref didn’t like that,” Clark said.
With their 122 points, the Fever set a franchise record for points in one game and reached the third-highest total for a non-overtime game in WNBA history. The Fever logged their 11th game this season with at least 100 points, tying a WNBA record.
The Fever outscored the Sun 36-26 in the first quarter. They held a 70-46 lead at the break, setting a franchise record for points in a half. Clark made her first four shots and scored 11 of the Fever’s first 15 points. She scored 10 points in the second quarter.
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Fellow All-Star guard Kelsey Mitchell chipped in 23 points. She also logged her 11th consecutive game with at least three 3-pointers, a WNBA record.
Fever center Aliyah Boston totaled 22 points in the victory. Miller led the Sun with 15 points. Rivers scored 13 points off the bench in the loss.
Clark also will receive a $1,000 fine for her seventh technical foul. She could be fined $1,500 — in addition to her one-game ban — if she gets another.
The Fever (17-10), who are on a three-game winning streak, sit in fifth place in the WNBA standings. The Sun (7-20), who lost their last two, own the league’s second-worst record.
The Fever will take on the last-place Seattle Storm (6-23) at 9:30 p.m. EDT Tuesday in Seattle. The Sun will meet the eight-place Washington Mystics (14-12) at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in Washington, D.C.
