Caitlin Clark was having another outstanding game on Saturday before a controversial moment suddenly put her availability for the Indiana Fever’s next game in question.
Facing the Chicago Sky, the Fever guard scored 22 points through the first three quarters, while shooting 6-for-11 from the field and 4-for-5 from 3-point range. She also added eight assists, three rebounds and two steals.
Things soon took an awkward turn in the third quarter. Clark was assessed a technical foul, her eighth of the season. The technical came after Clark appeared to accidentally make contact with official Genesis Perrymond while falling out of bounds.
Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images
Under WNBA rules, a player or coach receives an automatic one-game suspension after reaching eight technical fouls during the regular season.
As the Fever entered the fourth quarter, ABC broadcaster Ryan Ruocco reported that the technical had been assessed because Clark ran into the official.
Clark was later seen speaking with Perrymond during a timeout, seemingly looking for an explanation for the call (h/t Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files).
The incident also drew a technical foul for Fever head coach Stephanie White after she came to Clark’s defense.
The WNBA can still review the incident and rescind the technical foul if it determines the contact with Perrymond was accidental. That would keep Clark from reaching the technical-foul threshold and allow her to remain eligible for Indiana’s next game.
If the technical stands, however, Clark would serve a one-game suspension Tuesday when the Fever host the New York Liberty. That would be a significant blow for Indiana, who are hoping to secure home court advantage with 12 games left in the regular season.
The Fever survived a late rally from the Sky to win 90-86, with Clark finishing the night with 26 points and 11 rebounds. The victory moved Indiana to 20-12 and into fourth place in the WNBA standings.
