A day after registering a career-high 45 points against the Seattle Storm, Caitlin Clark followed it up with another impressive performance, recording 17 points and seven assists in the Indiana Fever’s convincing win over the New York Liberty. However, the game was overshadowed by a controversial no-call after Clark was struck in the face.

WNBA officials came under heavy scrutiny following Saturday’s game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Clark was driving toward the basket for a layup when Liberty star Breanna Stewart attempted to block the shot. 

However, during the play, Stewart’s hand struck Clark across the face, appearing to catch her in the eye.

Although the contact did not appear to be intentional, videos shared on social media left many fans wondering why a foul was not called after the guard took a blow to the face. Officials, however, allowed play to continue after reviewing the incident.

The Indiana Fever star was not made available to reporters after the game. Therefore, she did not comment on either the missed foul or the earlier incidents during the matchup against the New York Liberty. And you can understand why.

Just a few days ago, Clark was seen shouting at the referees after having to play the entire game against the Las Vegas Aces with a leg contusion. Throughout that game, she endured a series of challenges she believed should have resulted in fouls being called in her favor.

Earlier this season, Alyssa Thomas was also involved in a controversial incident with Clark that was not called a foul during the game, although Thomas was later suspended for the play. This has now become a concerning trend, with questions being raised over whether Clark is being treated fairly by the league’s officials.

That said, despite the physical contact during the game, Clark and her team stayed composed. Indiana fought back after trailing by 13 points in the opening half of the game. Kelsey Mitchell led the comeback with 33 points, and the Indiana Fever eventually secured a comfortable 20-point victory over the Liberty.

The win improved the team’s record to 16-10. It also moved the WNBA team from Indianapolis into first place in the Eastern Conference standings heading into the second half of the 2026 season.

Although the missed foul ultimately did not affect the outcome of the game, another incident involving Clark had fans talking.

Caitlin Clark faces potential punishment

During the opening quarter of the same game, Clark collided with a hard screen set by the 32-year-old Bahamian-Bosnian center Jonquel Jones. 

The impact sent the 24-year-old to the floor. As she was still reacting to the play, Liberty guard Marine Johannes knocked down a 3-pointer. The Fever Guard believed the screen should have been called illegal, as she immediately protested the decision and expressed her frustration.

However, instead of receiving the foul call, Clark was assessed a technical foul, marking her 6th of the 2026 season. If Clark reaches 8 technical fouls in 2026, the Indiana Fever guard will receive a one-game suspension and could also be hit with a $1,500 fine under the new WNBA rules.

Even so, after the match, coach Stephanie White said she did not ask officials for an explanation regarding the foul. “There have to be conversations… making sure that we’re strategic in using our technical fouls,” the head coach said as per Fox News. 

With the upcoming game against the Connecticut Sun now approaching, Caitlin Clark will be hoping to deliver another strong performance. At the same time, all eyes will remain on the Indiana Fever guard as she tries to avoid another technical foul.