Caitlin Clark on the verge of a possible WNBA ban? Outstanding rookie speaks out against alleged unfair treatment

Although the Heat temporarily moved on from Indiana Fever rookie standout Caitlin Clark following their May 24 win, the WNBA team’s season is stuck in a losing streak, riding a 1-8 streak that runs counter to expectations. As if that wasn’t enough to make Clark’s major league debut disappointing, she’s now in a tough spot with the threat of a suspension looming.

Her total number of technical fouls is increasing by the minute. Things got even worse on Thursday night when the highly touted basketball star faced off against Seattle Storm defender Victoria Vivians. While the duo received double technical fouls, Clark’s total rose to three despite having played just nine games in the WNBA after making her big-game debut earlier this year.

According to WNBA rules, players who commit seven technical fouls in a season are suspended for one game. In addition, each subsequent technical foul will remove another game from the player’s schedule. With 31 games remaining in the regular season, all eyes are on Clark, who cannot afford to be assessed a technical foul after the third count. Rivals Indiana Fever will be paying particular attention to the 22-year-old star, looking for ways to get her off the court.

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On Thursday, the Storm finally defeated Indiana with a devastating 103-88 loss.

Why did Caitlin Clark receive a technical foul on Thursday?

Going into halftime, Indiana trailed Seattle 34-25. Caitlin came to her team’s rescue, but only just with a three-pointer. Vivians didn’t let her go easy, however, and the two got into a heated moment as they ran down the court. Both received a technical penalty for the bitter encounter.

During another faceoff, Fever coach Christie Sides was behind Clark. She got into an argument with the referee in the third quarter just before receiving a technical foul. Referring to Seattle’s Sami Whitcomb’s offensive fouls on Clark that were ignored, Sides said after their loss, “I feel like they’re getting some fouls from our side as well, and I just don’t feel like we’re getting some of them.”

Her previous technical fouls were the result of verbal altercations with referees. After a devastating loss to the Connecticut Sun, she was assessed a technical foul when she yelled “That’s a damn foul” at the referee after a play that didn’t result in a referee’s whistle.

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How Caitlin Clark reacted to the alleged unfair treatment

Although she was glad that her coach supported her during Storm’s attack, which was never called for a foul, Clark expressed her thoughts on the increasing physicality of the game at the professional level.

Although Sides backed Clark this time, the head coach indirectly mentioned the rookie’s technical foul earlier in the week, saying, “We spend too much time talking to the referees. We’ve got to stop doing that. We’ve got to just play our game and let them do their job and not put it in their hands.” She noted that the team shouldn’t get technical fouls, adding, “Let me get the technical fouls.”

In a post-game press conference, the No. 1 overall pick said, “I feel like I’m getting beat up, I don’t know.” Her statement echoed her previous remarks after Fever’s loss to the Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday: “I think everyone is physical with me, they get away with things that others probably don’t get away with.”

Despite her team’s consecutive losses, Clark is still in the lead and has a good chance of being named Rookie of the Year.

On Thursday, she recorded 30 points, five rebounds, six assists, three steals and three blocks, becoming the first WNBA rookie (and fourth player overall) to record 30-5-5-3-3. She’s also averaging 17.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game in nine games so far.

For now, Caitlin Clark will head to her next professional game of the season on Saturday, June 1, when the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky clash will kick off at 12 p.m. ET.