Caitlin Clark has set the WNBA on fire in her first year of professional action. The regular is nearly over, and the flamethrower has the Indiana Fever in the playoffs for the first time in seven years. The only problem with Clark’s unbelievable season has been her frequent run-ins with the league’s officials.
Referees and Clark’s own temper have proved to be more challenging for the rookie than any defense. She entered the second to last game of the season with six technical fouls, meaning if she accumulated a seventh she’d be suspended for the team’s final game against the Washington Mystics.
Clark earned her sixth foul in a game against the Las Vegas Aces, and she wasn’t happy about it.
“I think I could’ve done a better job keeping my emotions in check, but at the same time, really?” Clark said.
Caitlin Clark on her 6th tech this year:
“It’s crazy” — “They’re never gonna overturn that. It’s just one of the rules… I think I could’ve done a better job keeping my emotions in check, but at the same time, really?”
#WNBA| #FeverRising pic.twitter.com/a0792QxfPL
— Clark Coverage (@ClarkCoverage) September 14, 2024
Clark entered Sunday’s game against the Dallas Wings knowing that she couldn’t afford another technical, but things got close.
Luckily, her teammate, Aliyah Boston, got between Clark and the officials. Clark spoke about her teammates looking out for her after the game.
“My teammates do a really good job of that, they think it’s funny … now it’s basically over, I don’t have to worry about that anymore,” Clark said.
CC on Aliyah Boston turning her away from the refs:
“My teammates do a really good job of that, they think it’s funny … now it’s basically over, I don’t have to worry about that anymore.
Adds: “I don’t want to get technicals at all, my mom doesn’t want that for me either.” pic.twitter.com/iyWpPvncxk
— Chloe Peterson (@chloepeterson67) September 15, 2024
Even if Clark earns a technical in the final game of the regular season, she won’t be suspended for the playoffs.
It’ll be interesting to see what she can accomplish now that she’s not holding back anymore.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.