Caitlin Clark gets chippy with referee after Fever’s loss to Wings

A crushing night in Indianapolis ended with what appeared to be a heated moment between Caitlin Clark and a referee.

With the Fever trailing the Wings by one point Tuesday with less than two seconds to go in regulation, Indiana guard Kelsey Mitchell hurled the ball toward the net for the win but clipped the backboard instead.

As the Wings celebrated the 81-80 road victory inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Clark — currently sidelined with a groin injury — walked on the court toward official Amy Bonner, with images of the interaction seemingly illustrating a chippy exchange, in which the ref appeared to point toward the bench.

Clark, who isn’t a stranger to jawing with the refs, wasn’t the only member of the Fever who appeared to take exception to the officiating Tuesday, with head coach Stephanie White chiding the “double standard” in a physical game.

“If it’s going to be physical, and you’re going to allow us to be physical, then allow both teams to be physical. If you’re going to call the holds, and you’re going to call the chucks, then call it both ways, White said, according to the Indy Star. “So, I mean, I think that we’ve been pretty consistent in what we’re asking for, and I didn’t feel like it was consistent,”

White, in her first season as coach of the Fever, “went up to the referees multiple times during breaks and timeouts to talk and get clarity on different foul calls,” per the Indy Star.

Aliyah Boston, the Fever’s first overall pick in 2023, tallied three fouls Tuesday, including a questionable call involving Wings center Li Yueru, who clamped the Fever star’s arm, which became entangled in her own as she made a shot.

The Fever fell to 18-15 with the loss and are sixth in the WNBA standings.

Clark, the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year, has been hampered by injuries during her sophomore campaign.

She has been out since July 15, and there is no concrete timetable as to when she’ll return.

Through 13 games this season, Clark has averaged 16.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 8.8 assists.

The Fever return to action Friday against the Mystics.