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Caitlin Clark, Sophie Cunningham get mad at referees during playoff game

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Darryn Albert | Last updated Sep 16, 2025 8:59 PM ET

Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham were as animated as could be from the sidelines this week.

The Indiana Fever teammates Clark (groin) and Cunningham (knee) are both injured and out for the remainder of the 2025 WNBA season. But they still made their presence felt during Indiana’s first-round playoff game on Tuesday against the Atlanta Dream.

During the first quarter at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, Dream guard Rhyne Howard drove down the baseline and drew a whistle as she went up for the shot. The Fever were incensed about the call though as they felt that Howard had taken an extra step before Indiana’s Lexie Hull was whistled for the foul.

Clark and Cunningham, both of whom were in street clothes, led the protest from the bench area. They both made emphatic "travel" gestures with their hands (with Clark even putting her hands on her head in disbelief at one point).

Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham wanted a travel here pic.twitter.com/dl8IIl5KN0
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) September 16, 2025

The first round of the WNBA playoffs is only a best-of-three affair, so the Fever (who lost Game 1 to the Dream by an 80-68 final score) had to win on Tuesday in order to keep their season alive — and they did, 77-60.

Clark has not played since July, and Cunningham has not played since August due to their respective injuries. But that did not stop them from attempting to lobby the referees during Tuesday’s Game 2. Clark in particular was probably especially passionate too since she already feuded with Howard specifically earlier this season.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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