Caitlin Clark has proven herself to be a generational talent with deep shooting range and court vision that turns heads, but even the best have their growing pains. So, coming into the 2025 season, CC was prepared with toned muscles and a bit more endurance. But is she? Not really, as nothing could have prepared CC to endure the kind of physicality the Connecticut Sun threw at her in their latest matchup after being eliminated from the Commissioner’s Cup.

It all came to a head in the second quarter of the game as tensions began to rise when Caitlin Clark, frustrated with the physical defense of her familiar Big Ten foe, Jacy Sheldon, gave her a light shove after an intense play. Then, the two players exchanged words, and it seemed like just another heat-of-the-moment exchange between former college rivals, until things escalated. By the third quarter, the physicality reached a boiling point. As Clark tried to make a pass, Sheldon poked her in the eye, a move that sent Clark reeling back, grabbing her face. What followed was chaos as  Clark turned and shoved Sheldon, who responded in kind.

But, before things could calm down, Sun center Tina Charles stepped in to separate them, but not before Marina Mabrey barreled into the fray, chest-bumping Clark hard enough to send her crashing to the floor. And then the refs huddled for an extended review while the crowd roared in protest. The result? Sheldon’s foul was upgraded to a Flagrant 1, whereas three techs were handed out to Clark, Mabrey, and Charles.

But just a tech was not enough to contain anyone’s frustration. As one broadcaster said, “There wasn’t impact-there wasn’t wind up or follow through, but there was a direct hit. To the eye of Clark, and then just a totally unnecessary body bump by Marina Mabry as the two sides had seemingly got it under control, separated to their ends“.

And then, every time Mabrey touched the ball after that, she was met with deafening boos from the Fever faithful. And throughout the incident, what really stood out was head coach Stephanie White having CC’s back. Just consider that when Mabrey shoved Clark to the ground, it was White who stormed onto the court, not just to break things up, but to protect her superstar sensation. She didn’t hesitate, as you could see her putting herself between players, defending Clark like a leader who’s all in.

Moments later, as things settled down, Clark was spotted on the bench sipping water and even cracking a small smile, after being calmed by her coach’s steady presence. But White wasn’t done, as when the referees issued Mabrey only a technical foul, White was right there, fiercely advocating for an upgrade to a Flagrant 1. Her argument wasn’t just about the call; it was about standing up for her player.

Well, this isn’t the first time Stephanie White has stepped up for her players. We’ve seen it before, like how she has been supporting DeWanna Bonner as she’s away for personal reasons, never rushing her return. Even when CC was eager to make a quick comeback after a quadriceps injury earlier this season, it was White who held the line, reminding her that long-term health mattered more than short-term heroics. So yeah, having her players’ backs isn’t anything new, it’s just who she is. But this time, it wasn’t just the head coach stepping up in support!

How does Sophie Cunningham step up to take revenge for Caitlin Clark?

What started as a revival of a collegiate rivalry between Sheldon and Clark took a strange turn after Clark’s flagrant 1 foul. After Clark was benched, it wasn’t just about Clark versus Sheldon; it was the Fever rallying around their star, with Sophie Cunningham leading the charge in the fourth quarter. And her revenge really reminded everyone why she earned a black belt in Taekwondo at six years old.

It all happened when the Fever were holding onto a solid lead but still facing pressure from the Sun’s aggressive defense. They lost the ball, and Jacy Sheldon went on a fast break for a layup. But Cunningham wasn’t about to let her get an easy bucket. As Sheldon rose for the shot, Sophie reached up, grabbed her around the neck, and pulled her down. Yes, it was a hard foul that immediately sparked tension, but what followed wasn’t just a whistle; it was an all-out confrontation.

Sheldon and Cunningham got into each other’s faces, as Cunningham wrapped her arms around Sheldon’s neck, bringing her to the ground. Other Sun players like Allen stepped in readily, pushing her. And then came the officiating chaos. As one commentator put it best, “Well, you can’t eject her (Cunningham) because you didn’t eject Mabrey.”

And he’s right. After all, Mabrey had gotten away with just a technical earlier for shoving Clark to the floor. Cunningham, Sheldon, and Allen were all ejected from the game and might have to pay fines as well. The Sun ended the game with five technical fouls and a flagrant 1 out of 22 total fouls, but the Fever weren’t far behind with nearly 21 fouls. However, despite the drama, the Fever came out of the night with battle scars – and an 88–71 win. They now move to 6–5 on the season, inching above .545.