Caitlin Clark had a brief chat with one of her heroes who helped America win the gold medal in Paris.
The Fever star committed a hard but seemingly routine foul on Mercury guard Kalia Copper in the second quarter of the team’s first game back from the Olympic break at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday night.
Clark ran hard into Copper’s arm as he rushed back to block a fast break shot, preventing the star guard from getting an easy layup or and-one that Copper couldn’t get off.
Copper, who led the U.S. in the gold medal game with 12 points in the fourth quarter of the game, appeared to take issue with the play and had to be stopped by a teammate for complaining to Clark.
Clark, who was subjected to multiple hard fouls earlier in the season, didn’t seem to understand what all the fuss was about.
“It’s just a foul,” Clark appeared to retort.
The No. 1 overall pick was controversially left out of the U.S. national team but proved herself with her play, recording 29 points and 10 assists in the Fever’s 98-89 win.
Copper led the way with 32 points and eight rebounds for a Mercury team that also included gold medalists Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner.
“We knew the girls were going to come here with a lot of confidence because we have three girls who have won gold medals,” Clark said. “Their confidence is really high and I think we went out there and set the tone.”
The game also featured another heated moment, with the Fever’s Kelsey Mitchell and the Mercury’s Natasha Cloud going head-to-head after a hard screen by NaLyssa Smith.
Phoenix Mercury’s bronze No. 2 comes in the second half
Aug. 16, 2024, Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Getty Images
Mitchell shoved Cloud, and the shoving continued even after teammates stepped in to stop him.
Clark appeared to have a pretty relaxing break from basketball, which included having fun in the sun on a boat with her Fever teammates and hanging out with Aaron Judge at a Yankees game with boyfriend Connor McCurphy.
