Caitlin Clark received the fifth technical foul of her rookie season on Sunday, as the Indiana Fever secured a big win over the Seattle Storm, 92-75 win.
Clark, who has been stellar since returning from the Olympic break, scored 23 points together with 9 assists, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks, to help give the Fever its 13th win.
Despite the Rookie of the Year favorite's powerful performance, a frustrating 3-of-10 from the three got the best of the 22-year-old. After missing a three-pointer in the third quarter, a frustrated Clark slammed the stanchion, leading to a technical foul.
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"I got a technical for basically being mad at myself because I missed a three, and then I went and hit the backboard," a dismayed Clark said during the post-game press conference, sharing how the referee found her action "disrespectful" to the game.
Clark clarified that her reaction had nothing to do with the officiating or her opponents, it was just the "competitor" in her that felt like she should be able to deliver more for her team.
However, Clark thanked the referee for lighting a fire in her and the team, helping the Fever score a 57-point second half, compared to only 41 for the Storm.
"I think he fired me up to continue to play a lot harder. I thought we got a lot better after he did that, so I want to thank him for that," the 2024 number one draft pick sarcastically added.
Caitlin Clark says the ref told her she was "being disrespectful to the game of basketball" after handing Clark a technical foul for hitting the backboard with her hand. pic.twitter.com/rN3cWU2Usf
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) August 18, 2024
Caitlin Clark breaks WNBA Rookie Record
Clark's Sunday play also allowed her to break the WNBA record for the Most Assists in a Season by a Rookie with 232, and counting. She moved past Ticha Penicheiro record of 224 for the Sacramento Monarchs in 1998.
On Friday, the former Iowa Hawkeyes standout also had double-digit assists, with 10 and 29 points, leading the Fever past Diana Taurasi's Phoenix Mercury.
The Indiana Fever will face the Minnesota Lynx on Saturday.
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