Caitlin Clark received her third technical foul call in just nine games in her WNBA debut season. During a 103-88 loss to the Seattle Storm, the Iowa record-breaker and Indiana Fever’s first-round choice got into a heated altercation with guard Victoria Vivians. Officials issued a double technical to both Clark and Vivians in the incident.
Clark shot a huge 3-pointer over Vivians in the second quarter, and when the two walked to the opposite end of the court, Clark was extremely excited as she stared down her opponent. A tiny bump caused referees to sound their whistles and intervene, with Fever forward Aliyah Boston directing Clark away from the altercation. If Clark accumulates eight technical fouls during the season, he will be suspended for one game automatically.
“Being competitive is who I am, sort of throughout my whole career,” Clark said after the game. “I believe there are occasions when I could channel it more effectively, but that is simply basketball at the end of the day. That will never change. I’m never going to lose that. I feel like I’m being pummeled.
Clark has not held back her dissatisfaction with authorities early in her debut campaign. She received a technical foul in Tuesday night’s loss to the Los Angeles Sparks, prompting Indiana head coach Christie Sides to indirectly criticize Clark after the game for her on-court actions. Following Thursday’s setback, Sides was more supportive of Clark. “She is a competitor, and I love her fire,” Sides remarked. “We just need to improve our officiating. We need to get some of those calls.”
Clark scored 20 points, had three rebounds, nine assists, and a block, but also committed seven turnovers. The Fever fell to 1-8 on the season after another loss. Indiana returns to action on Saturday against former LSU star Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky.
Clark set multiple records throughout her four-year undergraduate stint at Iowa, where she became a household celebrity. This previous season, women’s collegiate basketball skyrocketed in popularity thanks to top players, like Clark. Iowa received record television ratings for the Elite Eight, Final Four, and national championship games. Clark became the all-time scoring leader for any NCAA Division I player, men’s or women’s, and surpassed Lynette Woodard as the all-time scoring leader in major women’s college basketball, with 3,951 points.
Clark’s ascent to prominence contributed to the expansion of women’s basketball. Clark’s new eight-year contract with Nike is for $28 million, which includes a trademark sneaker. The agreement represents the largest sponsorship contract ever signed by a female basketball player.
