Indiana Fever’s head coach, Christie Sides, shared her concerns about Caitlin Clark during a 99-88 loss to the Minnesota Lynx on Friday night. This marked the Fever’s second loss since the WNBA resumed after the Olympic break.
Clark expressed visible frustration over what she felt were several missed calls during the game. Late in the third quarter, she sarcastically clapped at the referee after a blocking call against the Lynx, which she felt was overdue.
Given that Clark had accumulated five technical fouls for the season, just two short of a suspension, Sides decided to bench her for the rest of the quarter to avoid any risk of a technical foul.
After the game, Sides explained her decision in an interview, stating, “I was concerned she might get a technical in the third quarter, and thankfully, she didn’t.” She added, “That’s part of her growth. She needs to maintain composure in those moments because we need our point guard to stay calm and lead the offense.”
Clark concluded the game with 25 points, shooting 8-of-21, along with eight rebounds and eight assists. Despite the loss, the Fever remain 18-17 for the season and hold a one-game lead over the Phoenix Mercury for the sixth spot in the WNBA playoffs.
