Caitlyn Clark and Rhyne Howard found themselves in a tense moment late during the first quarter of the Fever’s 81-76 win over the Dream on Thursday.
The two players collided, prompting their teammates to step in before things escalated. I think it was one of those moments where cooler heads sort of prevailed, eventually separating them.
Howard ended up getting called for a foul while trying to defend Clark, who seemed to annoy the 2020 WNBA Rookie of the Year by pushing herself against Howard. This led to some, well, let’s just say “extra activities.”
Cameras caught Clark seemingly telling Howard, “I’m not scared of you.” Perhaps she felt the need to assert herself?
Despite Howard’s attempts to plead her case to the officials, they didn’t call any fouls for what appeared to be minor interactions.
Fever managed to seize victory as a sort of payback after losing 91-90 to the Dream just days prior.
Clark, however, didn’t have her best game. She ended with just 11 points and missed all five of her three-point attempts, which was a surprising first since her college days at Iowa.
In fact, you have to go back to a game against Purdue in January 2022 to find the last time she was held without a successful three-pointer.
Natasha Howard shone in the game, scoring a remarkable 26 points for the Fever.
The match took place at State Farm Arena, the Hawks’ home, and it was noted to be a sellout.
Even after being separated, Clark continued her animated exchange with Howard. Didn’t they seem to have more left to say?
Looking ahead, Clark and the Fever are set to travel to New York this weekend for a game against the Liberty at the Barclays Center on Saturday afternoon.
There’s a bit of uncertainty about whether Clark will also attend the Madison Square Garden game on Friday, where the team will face off in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Before Thursday’s game, Clark shared with reporters that she was enjoying watching the Pacers’ playoff run, particularly their thrilling comeback in Game 1.
It’s interesting to note that Conor McCaffery, Clark’s boyfriend and a Butler assistant, previously worked in basketball development with the Pacers.
