Caitlin Clark Nearing WNBA Suspension After ‘Disrespectful’ Technical Foul.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark put up yet another incredible performance against the Seattle Storm on Sunday, August 18. Not only did she obliterate the WNBA’s rookie season assist record, registering her 225th dime in the second quarter, Clark also finished 23 points, 9 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 1 steal.
Clark’s passion for the game is always on full display during big games like this, however, sometimes her intensity gets the star into trouble. After missing a shot, the 22-year-old slapped the padded stanchion of the basket in frustration and the ref issued a technical foul, her fifth of the season.
If Clark earns two more technical fouls, she will receive a one-game suspension. The Fever still has 12 more regular season games after defeating the Storm 92-75.
Losing Clark for even one game would be a devastating turn of events for a team on the precipice of clinching a spot in the WNBA Playoffs. With a 13-15 record, Indiana sits in 7th place. The top 8 teams make the postseason.
Clark made it clear she thought the call was bogus. “I got a technical for basically being mad at myself,” she told reporters. “[The ref] told me it was disrespectful to the game of basketball,” which left the rookie shaking her head.
Looking at the silver lining, “I think he fired me up to continue to play a lot harder. I thought we got a lot better after he did that so I wanna thank him for that.”
If the 22-year-old garners more than seven technical fouls, she’ll receive another suspension at 9 techs, then 11, and so on. While numerous of Clark’s technicals have been questioned, the foul she received against the Storm left fans and analysts shaking their heads.
Recruiting analyst Sam Kayser posted, “I just witnessed one of the worst technical fouls ever called on Caitlin Clark just now. Misses shot on one end, comes back on defense, ball goes out of play, slaps stanchion in frustration, gets called for a tech. Insane.”
One fan posted, “Caitlin Clark just got a technical for hitting a pad because she was angry at herself for missing a shot. WNBA REFS ARE COOKED.”
Next up, the Fever travel to take on the Minnesota Lynx on Saturday, August, 24.
