During a post-game press conference following the Indiana Fever’s 88-71 victory over the Connecticut Sun, a significant incident regarding player Caitlin Clark transpired. In the third quarter, Clark was involved in a controversial play where she received a technical foul after being struck in the face by Jacy Sheldon and subsequently knocked down by Marina Mabrey.

Fever’s head coach, Stephanie White, took charge of the officiating questions, passionately stating, “Everybody’s getting better, except the officials.” This statement was part of a longer critique aimed at the referees’ inability to maintain control throughout the match and the league’s failure to enhance officiating standards.

Clark and Sheldon share history from their competitive college days, intensifying their confrontation. Tensions flared early in the game, resulting in physical play that erupted when Clark and Sheldon clashed during a steal attempt, with Clark expressing her displeasure by pushing Sheldon.

The situation escalated with another involved physical foul from Sophie Cunningham on Sheldon, leading to ejections for both players after the referees reviewed the incident. White addressed the overarching issue of officiating in the league, asserting that everyone but the referees is improving. She recounted how even during the pre-game discussions, she had anticipated this kind of confrontation arising due to the officials’ lack of control.

As the Fever celebrated their performance, securing a place in the Commissioner’s Cup championship game for the first time, the controversy surrounding officiating overshadowed their success, with White facing potential repercussions for her remarks against the officiating crew.