Frustrated Caitlin Clark swats defender’s eye and draws a technical foul as she leads Indiana Fever to second consecutive victory.
Caitlin Clark has lashed out at an opponent in the Indiana Fever’s latest back-to-back win against the Minnesota Lynx, as she lost her cool with a player after an intentional foul on a fastbreak.
At the end of the third quarter of Sunday’s 81-74 win, Clark got a steal near Indiana’s basket before rushing down the floor in transition, only to be grabbed at halfcourt by Lynx forward Cecilia Zandalasini.
Annoyed by how she was fouled, the 21-year-old point guard swatted her right hand at Zandalasini after the whistle was blown.
Zandalasini then put her hand over her right eye, while Clark went to the free throw line as Lynx players around her were contesting the call.
Officials eventually reviewed the play and instead of advocating for Clark, they sided with Zandalasini, by giving a technical foul to the potential Rookie of the Year.
Caitlin Clark was handed a technical foul after poking a Minnesota Lynx player in the eye, Sun.
The Lynx’s Cecilia Zandalasini had her hand covering her right eye after being poked by Clark
After contact with Cecilia Zandalasini’s face, Caitlin Clark was assessed a technical foul.
This is Clark’s fourth technical foul of the season. — The Athletic (@TheAthletic) July 14, 2024
Clark scored 17 pts against Minnesota as the Fever have now won eight of their last 12 games
Nonetheless, Clark finished the game with 17 points to help the Fever win another game on the road after the team caused an upset over the Phoenix Mercury, earlier this week.
In that game, Clark broke the Fever’s franchise record for most assists in a quarter (7) with 9 in the first.
Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston added 21 and 17 points, respectively, on the Fever against Minnesota.
Boston also grabbed a career-best 16 rebounds and blocked four shots Indy.
Indiana (11-14), which lost 10 of its first 13 games but has won eight of 12 since, has won back-to-back games and three of its last four.
Alanna Smith had 18 points, eight rebounds and four steals despite being forced to the bench by foul trouble in the second half for Minnesota (16-8). Bridget Carleton tied her career high with five 3-pointers and finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
Minnesota’s Napheesa Collier (foot) missed her fourth consecutive game.
Clark, who made 1 of 9 from behind the arc in the first three quarters, hit a deep contested 3 to open the fourth.
