Once again, Caitlin Clark and the officials were the main talking point after an Indiana Fever game.
Stephanie White‘s team lost 111-109 to the Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday, with Clark leaving with a back injury midway through the fourth quarter.
However, most of the talk revolved around the Mercury’s way-too-physical defense of the star point guard, mostly because the referees didn’t seem too eager to call fouls.
It all started when Alyssa Thomas drove her knee into Clark’s thigh before placing her fist into Clark’s neck when they were both on the floor, scrambling for a loose ball. Then, Valeriane Ayayi stepped into Clark’s landing spot after a three-pointer, but no flagrant foul was called upon review.
That’s why coach White went scorched earth on the officials after the loss.
Stephanie White implores WNBA referees to protect Caitlin Clark
“I just saw it. I’m not sure if it had any impact on her health or not, but it was egregious,” White said. “The fact that it was a no-call. I heard about it at halftime. I brought it to the attention of the officials at halftime, yet we still had 11 fouls in the fourth quarter to their two? They still shot 24 free throws in the second half?
“Number one, you gotta call it. It’s absolutely egregious and utterly disrespectful. And then number two, you’re coming in here aware of what happened two nights ago, and that s— still happens? Absolutely unacceptable. Absolutely unacceptable,” White said, citing her team’s scuffle in the previous win over the Mercury.
White claimed the officiating has been inconsistent all season. More importantly, she believes the league is doing a terrible job of protecting one of the faces of the sport.
“We have a generational talent and a WNBA superstar who had two cheap shots right there that weren’t called. And I just say again: absolutely unacceptable,” White added.
Clark has been one of the most polarizing players in the league this season, and she also recently criticized the referees.
Fortunately, her back injury wasn’t related to any of these no-calls, and the Fever claimed it was precautionary, though it ended her streak of six consecutive 20-point games.
The Fever are now sitting on a 10-8 record and the seventh spot in the standings, and they still have a legitimate chance to make some noise in the playoffs.
However, it looks like Clark will have to earn every point the hard way.