A referee hit Caitlin Clark with a technical foul Monday night for clapping, her fifth of the season. The WNBA star wasted no time in the postgame press conference sharing her thoughts on the call.
“It’s ridiculous. I got a technical for clapping,” Clark said. “We should all just go on the calendar now and pick a game that I’m going to be suspended for if I’m going to get technicals for clapping.”
The call came with eight minutes left as the Indiana Fever led the Phoenix Mercury by 19 points. The Mercury pushed in transition, forcing a cross-match between DeWanna Bonner and Clark.
UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT – SEPTEMBER 25: DeWanna Bonner #24 of the Connecticut Sun drives against Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever during the fourth quarter of Game Two of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs first round at Mohegan Sun Arena on September 25, 2024 in Uncasville, Connecticut. The Connecticut Sun won 87-81 over the Indiana Fever. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)
A foul was called on Clark in the high post. She turned to engage the crowd as Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas and Indiana’s Myisha Hines-Allen began jawing. Clark approached them, clapping, and was assessed a technical foul by referee Gerda Gatling. (RELATED: Caitlin Clark Has Incredibly Dominant 32-Point Double-Double Performance To Shut Down Wild Comeback By Sky)
Bonner played for the Fever last season before stepping away from the team and requesting a trade, citing “personal reasons.” The Fever later released Bonner, who said she “felt the fit did not work out.”
Clark said Gatling told her the technical was for clapping.
“Gerda said I got a technical for clapping,” Clark said. “I said, ‘OK, then you just don’t love competitive basketball, and that’s just facts — that’s just reality.’ So disappointing from them.”
Clark has five technical fouls on the season, putting her three away from a one-game suspension. She does not plan to change her approach.
“I’m going to play with emotion, I’m going to play with passion, and if they’re going to give me a technical foul for clapping, then so be it. That’s their choice,” Clark said.
“It’s ridiculous…I got a technical for clapping…we should all just go on the calendar now & pick a game that I’m gonna be suspended for”
Caitlin Clark is PISSED pic.twitter.com/kzyeWhniSn
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) June 23, 2026
Clark’s head coach had a different view on the technicals.
“She’s got to be aware, certainly. I think there are some that we can do without,” the Fever’s coach said. “So, yes, we’ll continue to remind her, and I think she has to have an awareness.”
The Fever will rematch the Mercury on Wednesday, June 24.