Caitlin Clark has been in a constant tussle with officials since the 2026 season began. The referees, in the NBA and WNBA, have come under constant scrutiny from fans. The debate once again came to the fore when a WNBA journalist highlighted the officials’ differential treatment of Clark compared to Paige Bueckers.
Clark’s constant verbal scuffles with the WNBA refs have even spilled outside the arena to media sessions. Fans on Threads highlighted an incident during the Indiana Fever’s win against the Golden State Valkyries, in which Clark was seen visibly angry with the call and clapped to hype herself. However, she was let off the hook without any repercussions.
WNBA journalist Cari Champion shared Clark’s video and wrote on Threads:
“The other night Paige got a tech for clapping to the herself up”
View on Threads
On the other hand, when Bueckers and the Dallas Wings played against the Atlanta Dream, she was handed a technical foul for something similar on the floor.
Clark and Bueckers have already been engaged in a highly anticipated rivalry as the season began. Fans have constantly put the two guards against each other on social media. However, differential treatment on the floor between the two guards has surely caught the attention of fans and WNBA analysts.
Caitlin Clark addresses her absence from last game
Caitlin Clark and Fever head coach Stephanie White have had a difficult few games in the initial phase of the regular season. Their relationship has come under scrutiny several times, but fans questioned her decision-making against the Portland Fire when Caitlin Clark was sidelined just before the game.
Clark addressed her absence in the media session after the Golden State Valkyries’ game and said:
“I had every intention of playing, didn’t indicate I wasn’t gonna play. Approached Wednesday, that was the day of our game, as I was 100% playing.”
It seems Clark was as shocked by the team’s decision as the fans, as she was ready to play in the game. However, she returned to lead the offense with 22 points, nine assists, one steal, and a block. The Fever have back-to-back games scheduled with the Valkyries, as Veronica Burton and Co. will look to even the season series.
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