Caitlin Clark: Indiana Fever coach criticizes ‘terrible’ duties around WNBA star

Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White criticized the referees for their “disgusting” and “absolutely disrespectful” handling of their duties around star player Caitlin Clarke.

Clark was injured in the third quarter of the Fever’s 111-109 loss to the Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday after multiple tangles with opponents.

One incident saw Alyssa Thomas appear to kneel Clarke and shove her fist into his neck after a fight for possession, no foul was called.

Moments later, Clark was fouled during a three-pointer that led to an awkward landing for the 24-year-old, who appeared in discomfort as she returned to her feet.

Officials reviewed the play, but it was for Clarke’s possible hostile conduct for hitting a defender in the face rather than fouling the American.

“We have a generation of talent and a WNBA superstar who had two cheap shots that weren’t called,” White said.

“And I repeat, absolutely unacceptable.

“We’ve spent all off-season watching officiating. And I still say the one thing we want is consistency. He’s not being called the way everybody else is being called.”

Clarke eventually went off in the second half with a back injury and was ruled out for the rest of the game.

The incidents followed a heated matchup between the two sides earlier this week, in which fouls and collisions saw the Fever win 88-77.

“A fist to the throat is crazy. It’s dangerous,” White said.

“When you have these things happening over and over again, time and time again, eventually it gets frustrating, but I thought they were more serious.”

Clark became one of the greatest women’s basketball stars of all time after scoring more than 3,900 points at the collegiate level, more than any man or woman in history.

His performance for the Iowa Hawkeyes led the way record breaking Stats Watch in America, before being selected by the Fever as the number one pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft.