Caitlin Clark’s recent WNBA game has sparked considerable attention not only for her impressive performance but also for the controversy that unfolded on the court. In her last appearance, Clark was involved in a scuffle that led to an ejection and flagrant fouls, raising questions about how the league’s referees handle situations involving its star players. Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White expressed her frustrations toward the officiating, highlighting ongoing debates about Clark’s treatment by opponents.
On Thursday, Clark’s focus shifts back to her on-court skills as the Fever (6-5) face off against the expansion Golden State Valkyries (5-6) at the Chase Center in San Francisco. The Valkyries are coming off a loss to the Dallas Wings, ending their three-game winning streak. Clark has been a key player in the Fever’s recent success, averaging 26 points and 7.5 assists in her last two games since returning from a quad injury. Her standout performance included an 88-71 victory over the Connecticut Sun, which unfortunately was marred by the aforementioned incident in the third quarter.
During that game against the Sun, Clark was struck in the face by Jacy Sheldon, leading to a confrontation that saw both players involved in physical exchanges. As a consequence, Clark’s teammate, Sophie Cunningham, received a flagrant 2 foul and was ejected from the game, a call that was heavily reviewed later. Additionally, Marina Mabrey of the Sun received a flagrant 2 foul assessment for her role in the incident.
With the entire Fever roster available to play against the Valkyries, the team hopes to build on its recent momentum. However, Coach White will not be in attendance for personal reasons, leaving assistant Austin Kelly to take the lead.
For fans looking to catch Clark’s performance, the game is set to tip off at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. local time) and will be available for streaming on Amazon Prime.
This matchup presents a fresh opportunity for Clark to shine and for the Fever to reinforce their position in the league. Clark’s resilience in bouncing back from both injury and controversy could serve as an inspiration to her teammates and fans alike.