The Indiana Fever got off to a slow start to the regular season, but the team has turned things around recently. Indiana improved to 6-10 with a win over the hapless Washington Mystics on Wednesday.
Star rookie Caitlin Clark finished with 18 points and six assists. She also had four steals, but the game was the center of controversy over officiating.
As Clark drove to the basket and attempted a layup, a Mystics player appeared to hit him, but some spectators protested the referees’ decision not to call a foul.
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Indiana Fever player Caitlin Clark, wearing number 22, argues with an official about a call during the second half of a game against the Washington Mystics at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 19, 2024 in Indianapolis. (Emily Chin/Getty Images)
During the play in question, Mystics center Stephanie Dolson reached out in an apparent attempt to block a shot, but as the ball ricocheted out of Clark’s hand, Dolson made contact with Clark’s arm.
Some fans argued that Dolson committed a foul because Clark’s layup shot was adversely affected by the contact.
“I just started watching the WNBA and it seems like there are serious issues with WNBA officiating. I’m sure the WWE officiating would have caught this,” one fan wrote to X.
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“Serious miscall by @WNBA refs. This happens way too often to way too many players,” suggested another.
Indiana Fever’s No. 22, Caitlin Clark, drives to the basket during the first half of a game against the Washington Mystics at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 19, 2024 in Indianapolis. (Emily Chin/Getty Images)
Clarke’s receiving hard fouls has been widely discussed throughout the WNBA season.
Last month, Clark spoke about the physical challenges he faced early in his professional basketball career.
“I think people are going to be violent with me. They’re going to get away with doing things that other people wouldn’t get away with,” Clark said after the Fever’s loss to the Los Angeles Sparks on May 28.
The Fever vs. Sky match on June 1st will be Controversial foulSky guard Chennedy Carter scored a basket late in the third quarter, then she switched to defense and began guarding Clark, who was getting open to receive the inbounds pass.
Carter attempted a shoulder check that sent the Fever star to the floor without Clark touching the ball, and the official immediately called a foul on Carter.
Indiana Fever’s No. 22 Caitlin Clark drives to the basket against Washington Mystics’ No. 44 Carly Samuelson during a game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on June 19, 2024. (Emily Chin/Getty Images)
“Yeah, that was not a basketball play,” Clark told ESPN after the third quarter, “but that’s what matters at this level of basketball, so you’ve got to stick with it until the end. I thought we played really physical and we missed some bunnies around the rim, so hopefully we can nail it in the fourth quarter.”
The next day, the WNBA reviewed the play and determined that Carter’s foul on Clark was a Flagrant 1 violation.
Last Saturday, Angel Reese was called for a flagrant foul after hitting Clark in the head while attempting a layup, a foul Reese said is common in the game of basketball.
“It was a basketball play. It was a basketball play,” Reese said. “You can’t control the officiating. Obviously the officiating played a big part in the game tonight.”
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Clark reiterated Reese’s claims after the game, saying he believed it was just a basketball play.
“It’s just part of basketball, that’s the reality of it. You just play the ball and go for the blocks, that’s how it goes,” Clark told reporters.
Clark is averaging 16.3 points and 6.2 assists in 16 games this season.
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