Indiana Fever newcomer Caitlin Clark found herself in a heated exchange with Seattle Storm’s Victoria Vivians during the Storm’s commanding 103-88 win on Thursday night. The confrontation culminated in a double technical foul, but USC’s rising star, JuJu Watkins, admired Clark’s fiery spirit.
“She’s a dawg,” Watkins remarked on social media.
The clash erupted midway through the second quarter when Clark, after sinking a deep three-pointer over Vivians, engaged in a tense stare down and a minor physical bump. The officials swiftly intervened, blowing their whistles, as Clark’s teammate Aliyah Boston stepped in to diffuse the situation.
Watch the incident here:
This game saw Clark’s third technical foul in her first nine WNBA games. The league’s rules state that accumulating seven technical fouls in a season leads to a one-game suspension.
“Competitiveness is in my DNA, it’s been a part of me throughout my career,” Clark commented after the game, reflecting on her transition from college to the professional arena. “I know there are moments I need to manage my intensity better, but that’s just part of basketball. I won’t lose that edge. I feel like I’m constantly getting pounded.”
Head coach Christie Sides also weighed in, expressing her approval of Clark’s demeanor. “She’s a true competitor, and I love her passion,” Sides stated. “We need to work on navigating the officiating better. We need to get some of those calls to go our way.”
Clark ended the night with 20 points on 6-of-17 shooting. She also recorded three rebounds, nine assists, one block, and seven turnovers. The Fever’s loss drops their record to 1-8. They will return to action on Saturday, hosting the Chicago Sky, marking Clark’s first professional matchup against fellow rookies Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso.