Caitlin Clark Admits Need for Emotional Control as Technical Foul Worries Rise

Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever faced a tough loss against the Minnesota Lynx in a primetime WNBA matchup on Friday, September 6. Despite an impressive near triple-double performance from the rookie sensation—posting 25 points, eight assists, and eight rebounds—the Fever fell short, ending with an 88-99 defeat on their home court in Indianapolis.

The Fever entered halftime with a five-point lead, but momentum shifted dramatically in the third quarter, leading to rising frustrations for the Indiana squad. Clark’s frustration was evident as the Fever managed only 12 points in the period. The All-Star point guard grew visibly upset with several calls from the officials, voicing her grievances on the Gainbridge Fieldhouse court.

Her emotional reactions raised concerns about a potential technical foul, as Clark already has five technicals in her rookie season, with a seventh resulting in an automatic one-game suspension. Postgame, Clark acknowledged the need to better manage her emotions, explaining, “I thought I got fouled a couple of times on mid-range shots in the second half. Sometimes calls go your way, sometimes they don’t. I think I settled for too many mid-range jumpers and got bumped, but I should have done a better job controlling my emotions.”

Fever head coach Christie Sides admitted she benched Clark in the third quarter to avoid her picking up another technical foul. “I was concerned she might get a T, and thankfully she didn’t,” Sides shared. “But it’s a learning experience. I need my point guard to maintain composure and guide us offensively in those tough moments.”

Clark has been stellar throughout her rookie campaign, averaging 19.0 points, 8.4 assists, and 5.8 rebounds per game. Before Friday’s loss, she had notched three consecutive games with at least 20 points and 10 assists, including a triple-double against the Los Angeles Sparks earlier that week.