Caitlyn Clark was visibly frustrated, hands on her hips as she interacted with umpire Michael Price during Tuesday night’s Fever win over the Sun, which ended 85-77.
Her frustration seemed to boil over after a disagreement, leading her to tell Price, “That’s just rude. Grow up,” while gesturing for him to approach her in the third quarter. “Incredible.”
The main narrative from the game is likely to focus on Clark’s groin injury, which raises questions about her availability for the upcoming game against the Liberty and the WNBA All-Star break. But the memorable moment with the referee quickly gained attention online.
Clark isn’t one to shy away from expressing herself to officials.
With 4:33 left in the third quarter, the Fever had a narrow 54-49 lead when the Sun challenged a call regarding a ball that appeared out of bounds.
As the players left the court, Clark engaged Price in conversation. It seemed there was confusion before tempers flared as she tried to speak up.
One ESPN broadcaster noted that Clark voiced her disbelief by saying, “Are you kidding me?”
Hot mic caught her outburst as Clark approached the referee again, imitating a phone call while discussing a “call” with him.
They exchanged sentiments, and before Price could respond, Clark made her point before he walked away. She followed up by gesturing towards him as she headed to the Indiana bench.
Surprisingly, she didn’t receive a technical foul for her outburst but still managed to contribute, scoring 14 points, including a perfect 7-for-7 from beyond the arc.
However, her evening took a turn when she exited in the final minute due to a groin injury.
After the game, Fever coach Stephanie White mentioned that Clark would need evaluation, implying her participation in the weekend’s three-point shooting event could be uncertain.
This season has been rocky for Clark, who has missed 10 games (including a five-game stretch) due to groin and quad injuries—something quite unusual considering her history without injuries in college and high school.
White commented in the post-match press session about the physical play Clark is often subjected to. “I’ve sensed it as an opponent and now as her coach. I can’t pinpoint why it’s happening, but it’s something we need to work on,” she noted, emphasizing the need for adjustments to help Clark navigate the challenges posed by the league.
