Caitlin Clark Receives Punishment From WNBA After Indiana Fever Win

As the Fever celebrated their first playoffs series win since 2015, Clark made headlines after when she took to Instagram with pointed remarks about the officiating.

Reacting to a photo of herself on the sidelines alongside injured teammates Sophie Cunningham, Sydney Colson, Aari McDonald, and Chloe Bibby, Clark wrote, “Refs couldn’t stop us” and called the group the “elite Bench mob.”

On Saturday, she confirmed that the WNBA fined her for those comments, writing on X:

“Got fined $200 for this lol BENCH MOB WILL BE EVEN MORE ROWDY TOMORROW LETS GOO!!!!!!!!!!!!! @IndianaFever.”

Her remarks arrive at a time when Indiana’s fanbase has voiced growing frustration with what they view as uneven officiating. This is also not the first incident involving a Fever player being disciplined for critical comments.

WNBA Continues Fining Indiana Fever Players

Cunningham was fined earlier this year after posting about officiating on TikTok, with the league handing her a $500 penalty (h/t ESPN). She later revealed during an episode of her podcast that she had also been fined for remarks made on the show.

Clark’s latest punishment reinforces the league’s consistent stance against public criticism of referees, even as the debate around officiating in Fever games continues to intensify.

The Fever now turn their attention to a semifinals matchup against an Aces team led by three-time MVP A'ja Wilson. Playing without Clark and several other key contributors presents a significant challenge, especially against one of the league’s deepest rosters.

Much like in the first round, Indiana will need standout performances from its veteran stars Kelsey Mitchell, Aliyah Boston, Natasha Howard, and Lexie Hull to be at their best, while also relying on its bench players to step up in expanded roles.

Clark’s message suggests that she and her injured teammates will continue to bring energy from the sidelines, ensuring the “Bench mob” remains an active presence as the Fever try to cause another upset against a powerhouse opponent.