Caitlin Clark’s scoreboard taunt draws seventh technical, puts her on verge of suspension

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark is one technical foul away from a one-game suspension.

Clark picked up her seventh technical foul of the season in the Fever’s 123-88 win over the Connecticut Sun on Wednesday, July 22, following a back-and-forth exchange with Sun guard Saniya Rivers. Clark and Rivers were chirping at each other with 28.8 seconds remaining in the third quarter after Clark believed she was fouled by Rivers. As the two exchanged words, Clark told Rivers to “look at the scoreboard” as the Fever led 95-67.

HIGHLIGHTS: Indiana Fever set franchise records in blowout win over Connecticut Sun

“(Rivers) said she was locking me up, so I said ‘scoreboard’ and the ref didn’t like that,” said Clark, who finished with 27 points and 11 assists in the blowout win, which set a new franchise scoring record.

Rivers was also called for an offsetting technical foul.

Kelsey Mitchell wasn’t aware that Clark was teed up and gave a nervous laugh during the postgame press conference. Clark responded with a laugh of her own, saying, “It’s not funny.” Aliyah Boston added, “No, it’s not.”

Under WNBA rules, a player or coach is automatically suspended for one game upon receiving their eighth technical foul during the regular season. Every two additional technical fouls received during the regular season will result in an additional one-game suspension.

Clark is tied with Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (7) for the most technical fouls in the league.

Fever head coach Stephanie White said Clark has to “pick and choose” when to express her emotions with a one-game suspension seemingly on the horizon, although White said there’s only so much the coaching staff can do.

“She’s got to pick and choose and it’s every two (technicals) after that. So I think the biggest thing is she knows,” White said. “She has awareness about it. We’ll try to help her when we can, but sometimes we can’t. And if she wants to be strategic about which game she doesn’t want to play, then she’ll let her fly.”

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) reacts in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

The Fever still have 18 games remaining in the regular season once play resumes after the All-Star break. Clark is averaging one technical foul every 3.3 games at this point of the season, but stopped short of saying a suspension is inevitable.

“I can’t predict the future,” Clark quipped. “You got to ask a magic eight ball.”

Clark said she isn’t going to change the way she plays and doesn’t plan to tone down the intensity and passion that “makes me me,” but she said she plans to find a “a good balance” so she’s available for her teammates.

“I’m never going to back down,” she said. “I think just continue to try to control your emotions the best you can. … I don’t think I’m going to be playing with that in the back of my head. I think that might hinder my play a little bit. So I think, just continue to be myself and then just try to refocus, to focusing on my teammates and how I can help them.”

Caitlin Clark technical fouls this season

Wednesday, May 13: Clark was whistled for her first technical foul of the season vs. the Los Angeles Sparks for arguing an offensive foul as the Fever were heading to the locker room for halftime. After the Fever’s 87-78 victory, Clark took responsibility for the tech and praised the officials: “The refs are doing a tremendous job. I deserved the technical they gave me. It’s great for the game, they are going to keep the hands off, they are going to make the play be good.”
Monday, May 22: Clark and the Golden State Valkyries’ Janelle Salaün were called for offsetting technicals after a dustup under the basket as the halftime buzzer rang. Clark appeared to swat at the ball and caught Salaün’s arm. Salaün responded with an elbow before they were both separated and rung up. Clark was also called for a Flagrant Foul 1 for setting a hard screen on Veronica Burton in the fourth.
Thursday, June 11: In the Fever’s 114-106 overtime win over the Chicago Sky, Clark emphatically swung her arm in the air toward the referee after no foul was called on her driving layup attempt. Clark said the technical was “definitely deserved” and added to the team’s momentum. “I wanted it,” she said.
Sunday, July 18: Clark was called for a technical foul in the Fever’s 106-81 win over the New York Liberty after running into a screen with 8:29 remaining in the first quarter and yelling at the referee for not calling the play in her favor.
Wednesday, July 22: Clark picked up her seventh technical foul in the Fever’s 123-88 win over the Connecticut Sun on Wednesday, July 22, following a back-and-forth exchange with Sun guard Saniya Rivers. Clark and Rivers were chirping at each other with 28.8 seconds remaining in the third quarter after Clark believed she was fouled by Rivers. As the two exchanged words, Clark told Rivers to “look at the scoreboard” as the Fever led 95-67. Rivers was also called for an offsetting technical.

Reach USA TODAY National Women’s Sports Reporter Cydney Henderson at chenderson@gannett.com and follow her on X at @CydHenderson.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Caitlin Clark’s scoreboard taunt draws seventh technical, puts her on verge of suspension

Source link