WNBA Refs in Fever-Aces Facing Intense Backlash Over Caitlin Clark Decision.
Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever took on the defending champion Las Vegas Aces for the fourth and final time in the 2024 WNBA season on Friday night. The Aces took the first three games and will look to close out the sweep.
Just five minutes into the game, Clark received her second foul. In response, she screamed in frustration and smacked the base of the basketball hoop. The refs then blew the whistle and gave Clark a technical foul for her actions.
Clark now has six techs on the season. If she receives one more, she will be suspended for a game. WNBA rules state that a one-game suspension is handed out on the seventh technical foul of the season and every other tech after that (9th, 11th, 13th…).
The latest technical on Clark may have been the most questionable. The former Iowa Hawkeyes standout’s reaction to the personal foul was nothing serious and should have been let go.
At least, that’s what many WNBA fans are saying on social media, leaving their thoughts on the referee’s call.
“NO WAY THEY GAVE CAITLIN CLARK A TECHNICAL FOUL FOR THIS,” one fan said with three angry emojis.
“Me seeing Caitlin Clark get called for garbage technical fouls”
“WNBA refs are so soft. 6th technical foul on Caitlin Clark.”
“Caitlin Clark could get a technical for breathing wrong. my god.”
“Elbow to the face is a no call, but Clark hitting the post is a technical? There’s really no way you can convince me these refs aren’t biased, whether they realize it or not”
“WNBA it’s no wonder no one watches your league. That was a technical foul on Caitlin Clark? Watching your referees is like watching a junior high game. That might be giving it too much credit.”
With only two games remaining for the Fever following the Aces battle, a suspension seems unlikely for Clark. Fortunately, technical fouls reset in the playoffs. For Clark to be suspended, she would need to pick up a seventh tech prior to the final game of the season against the Washington Mystics.
