INDIANAPOLIS – The WNBA is still reviewing the appeal of a technical foul called on Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark this week and has not made a final decision whether it will be rescinded, a league spokesman said Wednesday.
The statement came hours after The Athletic inquired about the appeal of the technical, which Clark received during Indiana’s win over the Phoenix Mercury on Monday. In response to the initial inquiry, the league spokesman responded, “It was not rescinded.” But after the Fever contacted The Athletic and said they had not been informed of a resolution by the league, the WNBA said its initial statement was made before the team had submitted its appeal.
“As per WNBA policy, after each game the league reviews all technical fouls. Teams have the ability to provide additional information to the league and request a called technical foul to be overturned. We are in the process of reviewing a request from the Indiana Fever submitted (Wednesday) to rescind Caitlin Clark’s technical foul assessed at 07:57 of the fourth period during Monday night’s game against the Phoenix Mercury,” the league said in a statement.
Clark was assessed a technical after a dust-up with Phoenix forward DeWanna Bonner, who was formerly Clark’s teammate on the Fever. Clark fouled Bonner, and the two appeared to take exception to the physicality and exchanged words. After teammates and officials separated Clark and Bonner, Clark began clapping toward Phoenix players, an act the officials deemed as “instigating,” according to Clark.
If Clark’s technical foul stands, she will have five the season. If players reach eight technical fouls, they are automatically suspended for one game, per league rules.
“We should all just go on the calendar now and pick a game that I’m gonna be suspended for if I’m gonna get technicals for clapping,” Clark said.
Clark called the technical foul she received “ridiculous.” She specifically called out referee Gerda Gatling.
“Gerda said that I got a technical for clapping,” Clark said. “So, if any technical should be taken away, it should be that one, if it’s truly for clapping. That’s what they said they gave it to me for. It’s just ridiculous. I don’t understand it at all.
“I went to Gerda, and I said, ‘Why’d you give me a technical foul?’ She said because I was ‘clapping and instigating,’” Clark continued. “I said, ‘OK, then you just don’t like competitive basketball.’ And that’s just facts. That’s just reality. So, (it’s) disappointing for them.”
In total, five players received technical fouls during Monday’s fourth-quarter kerfuffle: Clark, Bonner, Mercury star Alyssa Thomas and Fever reserves Sophie Cunningham and Myisha Hines-Allen. Once play resumed, Hines-Allen fouled Thomas and shoved her after the whistle, resulting in Hines-Allen receiving a second technical and automatic ejection. Clark said she appreciated Hines-Allen having her back.
Clark seemed to dismiss the idea of changing her behavior when she was asked whether she needed to be more cognizant of her technical foul situation. She vowed to continue to “play with passion.” Fever coach Stephanie White defended Clark’s fiery, on-court personality, but she also acknowledged that Clark has to be smart.
“There are natural things that happen that the energy of the game creates when you do get those (technical fouls), but there are some that we can be a little bit more in control (of),” White said. “And so yes, we’ll continue to remind her, and I think she has to have an awareness.”
Clark, a two-time All-Star, ranks second in the league at 8.2 assists per game, trailing only Thomas for the WNBA’s top spot. She has a WNBA-record six straight games with at least 20 points and five assists.
The Fever will host the Mercury again Wednesday night.
