Caitlin Clark’s contentious relationship with the officials is nothing new. In their 109-75 win against the Las Vegas Aces on July 12, Clark had a moment where she protested a referee’s call. That happened once again in their latest 88-75 loss against the Valkyries. In the second period, Clark drove baseline with Kiah Stokes defending her in the paint. Clark went down with some contact, but there was no whistle.
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The Fever guard looked at the referee, then got up, and the cameras caught Clark limping back to the defense. In the very next play, Aliyah Boston went for a loose ball that came off the rim when Veronica Burton jumped in. Boston was immediately whistled for a foul, and Clark went nuclear.
“Usually that’s a technical in every state of this country,” a commentator said on the Valkyries broadcast as Clark retreated to the locker room. “I am surprised Caitlin doesn’t get a technical for that,” a broadcaster on the Fever stream added.
Shouting at the officials is considered a technical offense, and Clark herself has been penalized in the past. Back in May, Clark was furious at the officials heading into the halftime break and was given a technical. Fortunately for Clark, this time the official on the receiving end of her outburst showed patience and restraint.
“Gerda Gatling is giving Caitlin Clark a very long leash with the way she’s reacting. Sometimes you just have to let a player voice their opinion,” the broadcaster said on the USA Network.
Ironically, it was the same official, Gerda Gatling, who gave a questionable decision against Clark earlier in the season. She penalized Clark for clapping and “instigating” in the DeWanna Bonner-Sophie Cunningham exchange during the first Mercury matchup.
“Gerda said that I got a technical for clapping,” Clark said at the time. “So, if any technical should be taken away, it should be that one if it’s truly for clapping. That’s what they said they gave it to me for. It’s just ridiculous. I don’t understand it at all.”
If Clark had been given a technical in this scenario, it would have been her sixth technical. A suspension applies at 8 fouls.
Nevertheless, the problem is the inconsistency of it all. Ultimately, whether officials made the correct decision or simply opted to de-escalate the situation, the contrasting reactions only add to the ongoing debate over consistency in WNBA officiating.