Caitlin Clark picked up a seventh technical foul in the Indiana Fever’s blowout win over the Connecticut Sun, putting her just one away from a one-game suspension.
However, the Fever have reportedly appealed that technical foul along with another of Clark’s previous technicals. On ESPN’s “NBA Today,” Alexa Philippou reported she was told “by a source” that they’d appealed the technical foul Clark received in the Sun game, but there was no decision from the WNBA yet.
Her technical foul occurred in the third quarter of the game with the Fever leading 95-67. After Clark had been dribbling near the 3-point line, the refs blew the whistle after a foul. Clark and the Sun’s Saniya Rivers were talking trash to each other.
“Check the scoreboard,” some suggested Clark said to Rivers, while others indicated she also used an expletive as part of her trash talk.
ESPN’s Philippou reported that the Fever also appealed the technical foul Clark received on July 18 against the New York Liberty, and that the league did not rescind the technical.
Clark received the technical foul against the Liberty after getting knocked to the court on a hard screen, which allowed the Liberty to free up an open shot. Afterward, Clark stood up and yelled at the ref about the non-call, with the referee immediately calling the tech on her.
As of this writing, she still has seven technical fouls, which puts her one away from a $1,500 fine and a one-game suspension. Should the league rescind last night’s technical, she’ll be back at six, but she has indicated she has no plans to change her approach to the game.
Clark addressed her most recent tech, with teammate Kelsey Mitchell seeming unaware she’d even received one in their win.
“She said that she was locking me up, so I said ‘Scoreboard,’ and the ref didn’t like that,” Clark told her, laughing it off at the Fever’s postgame press conference.
She also reiterated that she’s “never gonna back down” but would “continue to try to control” her emotions as best as possible. It’s become tougher for Clark to do so, as some believe she isn’t getting the same respect from referees as other stars. Others have suggested Clark needs to stop complaining as much as she does and talking trash.
According to Across the Timeline’s WNBA stats, she’s currently tied with the Atlanta Dream’s Angel Reese for seven technicals to lead the league, suggesting both stars feel they aren’t getting that necessary respect three seasons deep into their careers.
Many of Clark’s teammates will get some time off, sort of. Meanwhile, Clark, Mitchell, and Aliyah Boston will all participate in this year’s WNBA All-Star Game after being voted as starters for this year’s big event on Saturday night in Chicago.