Caitlin Clark Draws First Technical Foul of Season in Fever-Sparks Game

Caitlin Clark picked up her first technical foul of the season Wednesday night during a heated exchange with a referee.

The call came with 20 seconds left in the first half of the Indiana Fever's game against the Los Angeles Sparks. Clark was whistled for an offensive foul, handing possession to Los Angeles. She then approached referee Jason Alabanza and appeared to argue with him. Alabanza issued the technical just before the Fever headed to the locker room at halftime.

Indiana still pulled out an 87-78 victory.

Clark now has nine technical fouls in her WNBA career, including six during her rookie season and two in an injury-shortened 2025 campaign.

Tensions with referees have marked Clark's pro career from the start. In the Fever's season-opening loss to the Dallas Wings, she hinted that officials missed calls in her favor. "I think especially if they're going to call it the way they're going to call it this year, I think I honestly could have probably got a couple more calls on a few of them, but that's okay," she told reporters after driving to the basket on plays during that game.

Debate over whether officials call enough fouls on Clark has simmered since her 2024 debut. Fans have complained that opponents often hit her hard without penalties.

She came within one technical of a one-game suspension as a rookie. In the WNBA playoffs last September, while sidelined by injury, Clark said she drew a $200 fine for tweeting "Refs couldn’t stop us" after Indiana's Game 2 win over Atlanta. "Got fined $200 for this lol," she posted on X with crying laughter emojis. "BENCH MOB WILL BE EVEN MORE ROWDY TOMORROW LETS GOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Clark has clashed with officials before, including last July against the Connecticut Sun. Video showed her saying, "Are you f----ing kidding me?" as Fever assistant Briann January pulled her toward the bench. As referees reviewed replay, the ESPN broadcast captured her yelling, "That’s just rude. Grow up. Come here, come here. Unbelievable."