The last time Caitlin Clark faced the defending champions, the New York Liberty, it ended in heartbreak for her. She faced heavy criticism, especially for the final play that ended up costing the Fever the game. Soon after, tragedy struck as it was announced that she would be out of action for the foreseeable future with a left quadriceps strain. But when she returned after two weeks? She came out firing, leading Indiana to a statement win over the very same Liberty side. And while her performance turned heads, her comeback had another storyline that had the whole community talking.

Clark came out all guns blazing with revenge in mind. She torched the Liberty early, scoring 25 points in the first half alone to wipe out an 11-point deficit. She hit 11 of her 20 shots and tied her career-high with seven threes. By the end, she had  32 points, 9 assists, and 8 rebounds, just three points short of her career-best 35, which came back on September 15 against the Dallas Wings. But the game wasn’t without its fair share of drama. It was clouded by a controversial call that had everyone talking.

Things heated up in the second quarter. During a Fever fastbreak, a clear no-call left Caitlin Clark visibly frustrated. She walked straight up to referee Biniam Maru and asked, “Are you serious?” That was all it took for the ref to hit Clark with a technical. In the background, you could see Breanna Stewart calling for the technical at the same time!

Naturally, this moment blew up across the basketball world. Fans took to social media to voice their thoughts and they had plenty to say. As the Fever celebrate the return of their superstar, let’s take a look at what some of them had to say.

Fans react to Caitlin Clark’s technical foul against the Liberty

The internet had plenty to say, and the reactions were definitely mixed. “CC has so much potential but it’s wasted by whining, bad body language, and just unsportsmanlike behavior all the time…just play ball! It’s good to be fired up and compete but dang it’s only your 2nd year and you’re already known as a crybaby” one fan said, pointing towards her history with foul trouble.

Despite a stellar rookie campaign, one thing continued to haunt the Indiana superstar. Technical fouls. Her fiery attitude, while a key part of her game, often led to trouble. She was known for letting referees know exactly how she felt! By the end of her rookie season, she was walking a tightrope, just one technical away from a suspension. “Cc a big cry baby😂😂” commented a fan while reviewing the incident.

Coming into this season, Clark hoped to change that. But things didn’t start smoothly—she opened with a flagrant foul on Angel Reese, sparking fresh controversy. Another fan joined in saying, “Cc got stop all that crying like Lecry baby bron bron. Play ball love ❤️”

While some fans were unhappy with Clark’s reaction, others couldn’t help but find humor in the situation, especially with Breanna Stewart’s unexpected involvement. Watching a player call for a technical like a referee? That’s not something you see every day. “Stewie is hilarious bro 😂,” commented a fan.

Breanna Stewart has been known for mimicking referee calls, and she’s not new to getting them right either. Just like in the 2024 WNBA Finals, when she playfully signaled for a tech on her close friend Napheesa Collier. Looks like Stewie’s got a side gig as an honorary referee! This was reiterated by another fan, who said, “Stewie’s so funny 😭😭” 

This marked Clark’s first technical of the season. Now, the countdown begins. Will she stay true to her word? Or will her fiery nature push her past last season’s total of six? What do you think? Can she keep her cool? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!