Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark Faces Controversial Play Against Phoenix Mercury
Superstar Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever made her much-anticipated return to the court in Indianapolis on Wednesday night. However, the match saw some questionable officiating, particularly regarding a foul that many deemed an unnecessary hit.
Clark started off strong against the Phoenix Mercury but found herself tripped in the paint while driving towards the basket. Three different Mercury players tried to steal the ball from her and succeeded.
In a concerning moment, Alyssa Thomas appeared to push Clark in a way that caused her to fall neck-first to the ground. This incident occurred right after the ball rolled loose in the paint.
Video evidence surfaced that clearly showed Thomas straddling Clark on the floor, yet the referee, who was stationed on the baseline, didn’t call a foul. This led to a flurry of responses on social media, with many fans expressing their bewilderment over the non-call.
Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports, expressed his outrage on Twitter, questioning the reasoning behind such a blatant foul going unpunished. “What are you doing here? Brutal cheap shot.” He added that it was crazy how Clark, a major draw for the league, was treated poorly.
Another fan chimed in, stating, “The fact that Alyssa Thomas is allowed to commit literal assaults on the basketball court without receiving a normal foul is beyond criminal. This league is cheating.” There’s a lot of frustration, it seems.
While Clark is known for playing aggressively, the absence of a foul call in such a situation raised eyebrows. The WNBA is currently reviewing a technical foul issued to Clark earlier in the week against the Mercury. Technical fouls were also handed out to several players during that game, including Fever teammates Sophie Cunningham and Misha Hines-Allen, along with Mercury players Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner. Notably, both Thomas and Hines-Allen received a second technical foul, resulting in their ejections.
In a similar incident this season, Paige Bueckers from the Dallas Wings received a technical for teasing during a similar situation. The league seems to be mulling over whether Clark’s actions, which contributed to a brief skirmish, can be classified in that manner.
Regardless, Thomas’s actions during a vulnerable moment for Clark did not prompt even a slight whistle, allowing play to continue unabated.
Unfortunately, Clark had to exit the game in the third quarter due to a back injury but managed to finish with 19 points and eight assists.
