NEED TO KNOW
- Caitlin Clark was involved in multiple scuffles with players from the Connecticut Sun during Tuesday’s game in Indiana
- Clark was handed a technical foul for shoving Jacy Sheldon of the Sun in the third quarter
- The Fever won the game 88-71 and advanced to the Commissioner’s Cup Final for the first time
Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever advanced to the Commissioner’s Cup Final after a grueling matchup with the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday, June 17.
Clark, 23, had 20 points and six assists in the 88-71 win that also saw her involved in repeated scuffles with the Sun’s Marina Mabrey, Jacy Sheldon and Tina Charles.
Clark and Sheldon first showed signs of tension on the court in the second quarter when they were seen exchanging words before Clark shoved Sheldon away.
The most dramatic incident in Tuesday’s game came in the third quarter when Clark was poked in the eye by Sheldon, 24. The Fever star grabbed her eye in a big reaction and the game officials called a foul on Sheldon, but things became more tense when Sheldon bumped Clark, who shoved her opponent away.
Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty
That’s when Mabrey, 28, came from behind Clark and bumped into her. Clark fell to the ground.
Mabrey and Clark were both assessed technical fouls for their part in the scuffle, and Sheldon was handed a flagrant 1 penalty, which gave the Fever a free throw and the ball back.
Charles, 36, was also given a technical foul for rushing to approach Clark during the skirmish.
Clark was asked about the tension with the Sun players during her postgame media availability, where she had a clear response. “You guys came for basketball, let’s talk about basketball,” Clark said on Tuesday.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
When one reporter asked her if she “feels like she has to stand up for herself” on the court, Clark replied, “At the end of the day, I’m here to play basketball and that’s what I’m going to do. My game’s gonna talk, and that’s all that really matters. I love this game and I’m gonna give it everything I have.”
Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty
Later in her media availability, Clark told reporters, “Come on now. We’re going to the Commissioner’s Cup Championship, that’s pretty exciting. Y’all wanna talk about that? Let’s talk about that.”
With their win on Tuesday, the Fever have advanced to the Commissioner’s Cup Final on July 1. It will be the first appearance for Indiana in the Final in the five years since the league introduced the Commissioner’s Cup.
Next, Clark and the Fever will take on the Golden State Valkyries on Thursday, June 19.
