The Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham made a bold entry on the hardwood and cooked up a storm against the reigning champions. But that was not enough. The team dived headfirst into a physically gruelling and aggressive showdown against the Connecticut Sun. Fever won the latest game by 88-71 against the Connecticut Sun and secured a spot in the WNBA Commissioner Cup finals against Washington Mystics on July 01, 2025. But at what cost?

Tensions were apparent between the two teams ever since they locked horns on the Gainbridge Fieldhouse. But sparks fueled into fire during the third quarter. Connecticut Sun player, Jacy Sheldon, poked Caitlin Clark in the eye while attempting a pass. However, the situation further escalated when Clark tried consulting Sheldon. Enter Sun athlete Marina Mabrey, who chested up to Clark and shoved the Fever guard to the ground.

This incident led to Mabrey and Clark being slapped with technical fouls as Sheldon came to terms with a flagrant. Moreover, center athlete Tina Charles also received a technical foul.

Women’s sports reporter at Front Office Sports (FOS), Annie Costabile, revealed fresh trouble ahead after the Caitlin Clark-Marina Mabrey incident. She shared a latest photograph of the match on X with a caption that read, “Fines are on their way for a number of Fever and Sun players following Tuesday night’s game. The cost of each serves as another stark reminder of the league’s low salaries.”

Costabile hinted of fines being underway for Indiana Fever and Connecticut Sun after three players were evicted during the final moments of the game. A hard foul by Sophie Cunningham in the fourth quarter led to an altercation between her and Jacy Sheldon. As a result, the referees removed Cunningham, Sheldon, and Lindsey Allen from the hardwood.

As per recent announcement, all players involved in the physicality are subject to fines. The league has the authority to impose fines at their discretion. Having said that, technicals in the regular games start at $200 each and are valid up to first three fouls. But if a player has between four to seven fouls, they are liable to pay up to $400 each. But if a player receives an eighth technical or more, they not only have to pay $800 but also receive a one-game suspension.

According to the WNBA, a Flagrant 1 foul costs $200 whereas a Flagrant 2 foul comprises a fine worth $400. Meanwhile, the league can levy additional fines and a disciplinary action against players in case certain players were found escalating a situation or for the failure to leave the hardwood on being instructed. Cunningham was gifted a Flagrant 2 before ejection. On the other hand, Sheldon and Allen were given technical fouls.

This incident of physicality comes a couple of days after Connecticut players Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Bria Hartley, and Tina Charles were involved in a scuffle involving Angel Reese. The Chicago Sky player complained of Hartley pulling her hair. Unfortunately, the situation escalated and referees and teammates had to jump in to separate Reese and Charles. But with fines underway, is this a new way for the league to control the on-court scenarios? Or is this incident a scapegoat to prevent further similar accidents?

Head Coach of Indiana Fever speaks her truth

“Everybody’s getting better except the officials.” The officiating inconsistency has become the identity of the league. Every team has a bad blood against the referees. But what happened during the Indiana Fever-Connecticut Sun tipoff cannot be ignored either. Fever head coach, Stephanie White called out the refs, again, after everything went South on the Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

This isn’t just a one-game problem, it’s a league-wide headache. The Washington Post called out the WNBA’s “officiating problem,” noting that refs have struggled all season to keep high-energy games in check. White saw it coming, saying, “I started talking to the officials in the first quarter, and we knew this was going to happen. You could tell it was going to happen. They’ve got to get control of it.” This ongoing issue could spell trouble for the Fever, who need a stable environment to keep Clark and Cunningham healthy and focused. If refs keep letting things slide, the Fever might face more physical battles, risking their shot at the Commissioner’s Cup and beyond.

Moreover, White pointed to brewing tensions between the two teams and suggested the refs to take immediate action and stop the issue from developing further. “It was pretty obvious that stuff was brewing,” White said. “When the officials don’t get control of the ball game, when they allow this stuff to happen. And it’s been happening all season long.”

And while physicality is not a new topic of discussion in the league either, the timeliness and the ability to control the situation is what makes the league a safe place. “This is what happens. You’ve got competitive women who are the best in the world at what they do,” White added. “When you allow them to play physical and allow these things to happen, they’re going to compete and they’re going to have their teammates’ backs.” And boy is she right!

And despite raising her voice against the league’s officiating policies, it looks like Stephanie White might also be fined for her views. While the absurdity of the league keeps growing, can this recent decision come as a roadblock in Indiana Fever’s perfect storybook run? Or will Clark and White’s partnership overgrow this hurdle as they aim for the topmost spot this season? Only time will tell.