Fever coach criticizes referees after Clark leaves game with back injury

Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White said the officials failed to call two fouls on guard Caitlin Clark in the second quarter of Wednesday night’s game against the Phoenix Mercury, describing the omissions as "absolutely unacceptable." Clark left the contest in the third quarter with a back injury and did not return. White pointed to a play in which Clark and Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas tangled for the ball, alleging that Thomas kneed Clark in the groin and pushed down on her neck, and to a later foul on a three-point attempt by Mercury forward Valériane Ayayi that she believed should have been classified as a flagrant foul. Both incidents were not called, and a review of the Ayayi play resulted in a common foul.

"We have a generational talent and a WNBA superstar who had two cheap shots right there that weren’t called," White said. White added that the team had focused on officiating consistency throughout the offseason and that the lack of calls was “egregious” and “disrespectful.” She said she asked the referees why the neck push was not called and was told they had not seen it. Clark finished with 19 points and eight assists in 20 minutes, ending her streak of six consecutive games with at least 20 points and five assists. The Fever, now 10-8, defeated the Mercury 86-77 despite allowing 100 points, a recurring defensive issue for the team. The Fever will host the Los Angeles Sparks on Saturday before a week-long break and a road game against the Las Vegas Aces on July 5.