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Replay shows Caitlin Clark’s Fever teammates may have saved her from automatic WNBA suspension originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Caitlin Clark produced another brilliant performance Friday night, but two Indiana Fever teammates may have made the most important play of the game.
Clark finished with 26 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in Indiana’s 112-98 win over the Portland Fire. The fourth triple-double of her WNBA career helped the Fever extend their winning streak to five games and improve to 19-10.
However, one tense moment late in the first quarter nearly created a much bigger problem for Clark and the surging Fever.
Replay shows contact on Caitlin Clark’s buzzer-beater
Clark connected on an impressive, off-balance 3-pointer just before the first-quarter buzzer, giving Indiana a 27-25 lead. Instead of immediately celebrating the difficult shot, Clark turned toward the officials and demanded a foul call. Replay footage appeared to show Portland guard Karlie Samuelson making contact with Clark’s right arm during the attempt.
No foul was called.
An angry Clark began shouting toward an official and appeared ready to continue the confrontation. Ty Harris quickly stepped in front of her teammate and pushed her away from the referees.
Aliyah Boston then grabbed Clark and directed her toward the Fever bench before the exchange could escalate. The intervention was particularly significant because Clark entered the game with seven technical fouls this season. Under WNBA rules, an eighth technical foul results in an automatic one-game suspension and a $1,500 fine.
There is no guarantee Clark would have received a technical had Harris and Boston not stepped in, but the two Fever players made sure officials never had to consider it.
MORE: Sophie Cunningham makes feelings clear on controversy surrounding Fever
Fever cannot afford to lose Clark now
Clark is now one technical foul away from a suspension at a crucial point in Indiana’s season. The Fever have won nine of their last 11 games and scored at least 100 points in five consecutive contests. Clark has been at the center of that remarkable offensive run, and her performance against Portland offered another example of her growing control over games.
Kelsey Mitchell matched Clark with 26 points Friday, while Sophie Cunningham contributed 13 off the bench. Indiana built an 18-point lead and successfully held off Portland’s late attempt to make the game competitive.
The Fever now face a major road test Sunday against the league-leading Minnesota Lynx, who own a 24-6 record and a nine-game winning streak. Indiana will need Clark available as it attempts to continue climbing the WNBA standings. Boston and Harris appeared to understand exactly what was at stake when they pulled their teammate away from the officials.
Clark’s buzzer-beater counted for three points. The quick thinking from Harris and Boston may have been worth even more.
More WNBA news:
- Aliyah Boston faces WNBA fine after heated exchange with Serah Williams
- Kelsey Mitchell makes double WNBA history in Fever’s win over Fire
- Kiki Iriafen, Cotie McMahon face WNBA fines after chippy Mystics-Wings game
- Angel Reese gets brutally honest about trade from Sky to Dream
- Caitlin Clark keeps it casual with relaxed pregame look before Fever-Fire matchup
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