Caitlin Clark took a hit to the face, received a technical foul that could lead to a hefty fine, and still came away with a win and first place in the Eastern Conference on Saturday.
Early in the first quarter of the Fever’s 108-88 win over the New York Liberty, Clark was called for a technical foul after she ran full speed into a hard screen set by Jonquel Jones.
The play was not whistled as illegal by officials, but Clark hit the floor and immediately voiced her frustration to the nearest referee. The technical was assessed just 90 seconds into the game, marking Clark’s sixth of the 2026 season.
Fever head coach Stephanie White said she did not ask for an explanation from officials for the call on Clark or the no-call on the screen play.
“There have to be conversations… making sure that we’re strategic in using our technical fouls,” White said.
The $1,000 fine that comes with the tech puts her two away from an automatic one-game suspension under WNBA rules.
Later in the game, during a defensive contest near the basket, New York’s Breanna Stewart extended her arm while challenging a shot. Replays showed Stewart’s hand making clear contact with the side of Clark’s face. No foul was called on the play, and Stewart was not assessed a flagrant or reviewed for it.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark goes up for a basket against New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart during the second half Saturday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Fever defeated the Liberty 108-88. (Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
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The play ignited debate on social media.
Clark was not made available to reporters after the game to discuss either of the plays.
Despite the early technical and physical contact, Clark and the Fever responded with a dominant performance.
Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever dribbles the ball during a game against the New York Liberty on July 18, 2026, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind. (Pepper Robinson/NBAE via Getty Images)
Indiana rallied from a 13-point first-half deficit behind a stellar night from Kelsey Mitchell, who scored 33 points. Clark finished with 17 points and seven assists while helping the Fever pull away in the second half for a convincing 20-point victory.
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The win improved the Fever to 16-10 and moved them into first place in the Eastern Conference standings heading into the second half of the season.
Indiana will look to build on the momentum when they return to action later this week on Wednesday against the Connecticut Sun.
