Caitlin Clark was ejected from the Indiana Fever's 86-77 win over the Phoenix Mercury on Monday after receiving her fifth technical foul of the season. The foul, called for clapping, sparked controversy and led to a heated exchange with officials.
Clark, who finished with 24 points and nine assists, questioned the call during a postgame press conference. "I got a technical for clapping," she said. "If any technical should be taken away, it should be that one." The WNBA has a precedent for rescinding such fouls, as it did for Paige Bueckers earlier this season.
The game also featured a physical altercation between Clark and Mercury forward DeWanna Bonner, reigniting tensions from their 2024 playoff clash. Both players were involved in a scrum that led to multiple technical fouls and an ejection for Indiana's Myisha Hines-Allen after she shoved Bonner.
Clark's technical fouls have drawn attention due to their potential impact on her availability. Eight technicals result in an automatic one-game suspension. Meanwhile, her high turnover rate—4.8 per game, the worst in the WNBA—has been a point of criticism, particularly in matchups against veteran teams like the Mercury.