On July 17, the Indiana Fever and Seattle Storm locked horns in one of the most anticipated games of the week. It had everything fans expected – from a historic performance to heated moments between college rivals Caitlin Clark and Flau’jae Johnson. Indiana eventually won 110-107 behind Clark’s explosive 45-point night, but four days later, it’s a fourth-quarter sequence between the two that WNBA analyst Zena Keita still can’t stop talking about.
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“It was interesting to see a little bit of kinetic energy between Caitlin Clark and Flau’jae. Flau’jae wasn’t having that. I’mma tell you right now. It was a foul at the end of the game,” Keita said in the latest episode of No Offseason.
“I do think that Caitlin Clark fouled Flau’jae Johnson on her way up. I know a lot of people are like, ‘Oh, the ball is part of the hand.’ Personally, I feel like one, Caitlin’s hand was on her back, then she crossed over and hit the wrist. it. From what I saw, I wasn’t there, but doesn’t take away from the fact that Caitlin had a phenomenal fourth quarter. She was cooking (and) was able to pull that win out.”
With the score tied at 102 late in the fourth quarter, Makayla Timpson turned the ball over while trying to make a pass to Clark. Flau’jae Johnson, who came up with the steal, quickly ran toward the basket for what looked like an easy layup. But Clark refused to give up on the play. The Fever star chased Johnson down and stripped the ball just as she went up to score.
Now, officials ruled that the ball went off Johnson and handed the possession back to Indiana, which eventually led to Clark burying the game-sealing three-pointer. But many, including Keita, were convinced CC fouled the young star on the play.
However, that wasn’t the only moment where emotions got the better of the two. Just a few minutes earlier, Clark sent Flau’jae Johnson to the floor with a push on the hip while defending her in the corner. The Fever star tried to help Johnson back to her feet while apologizing, but the Storm rookie ignored the gesture and got back into position.
This intensity, however, shouldn’t be mistaken for bad blood. Flau’jae Johnson has long admired Clark’s game and even referenced the Fever star in her song “Help Me.”
Clark, on the other hand, has returned that admiration in the past and said, “She’s so talented, and I’ve honestly been a really big fan of hers since we played them at LSU. I think her game is really good.”
So while both of them share a common admiration for each other, on the court it takes a back seat, and that’s exactly what happened in this game. Flau’jae Johnson finished with 16 points, six assists, six rebounds and three steals in one of her best performances as a rookie.