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Caitlin Clark’s Dad Calls Out WNBA Officials Without Hesitation

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Parker Johnson | Last updated May 4, 2025 6:33 PM ET

Caitlin Clark's strained relationship with officials is well-documented, going back before her WNBA career with the Indiana Fever to her college days with the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Therefore, it was no surprise that the topic of officiating arose during a live in-game interview on ESPN with her dad, Brent Clark, in the middle of the Fever's preseason game at Iowa's Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday.

Indiana took down the Brazil national team 108-44 in Clark's first game back on the floor at the University of Iowa. The NCAA all-time leading scorer registered the first points of the game with a three-pointer that drew a deafening roar from the crowd.

Despite concerns about a lingering leg injury, the former Hawkeyes star finished with 16 points, six rebounds and five assists in 19 minutes of preseason action.

LOGO THREE FOR CAITLIN CLARK. YOU BET

ESPN pic.twitter.com/kQylAgA80W
— WNBA (@WNBA) May 4, 2025

The heartwarming homecoming vibes were not enough to stop her dad from criticizing the officials when he had the mic on ESPN.

"You’re new WNBA parents," ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe said to Clark's dad during their interview in the third quarter. "What did you learn in (Caitlin's) rookie season that you can help support her and be there for her in this coming season?"

"There’s a lot of room for improvement there, particularly in the officiating," the two-sport college athlete said without hesitation.

"I’ve noticed a little bit of a difference," he conceded during the Fever's offensive onslaught against Brazil. "It seems like they’re really officiating the game like it should be officiated. If you make the game more fluid people are going to like the product even more than it is right now."

Caitlin’s dad Brent Clark in game interview pic.twitter.com/gubxPFbxYU
— correlation (@nosyone4) May 4, 2025

Last season, his daughter picked up six technical fouls for Indiana, one short of a WNBA suspension. She has stated that her goal for this year is to receive no more than two techs, and she has already been seen in preseason chatting with any official who will listen to ask for more calls in 2025.

If the WNBA officials follow Brent's advice and let the players play more, she'll have a better chance to achieve her conservative goal. Fans do not believe she has a chance to follow through, and her dad's unprompted comments seemed to suggest that agreeing with the refs simply is not in Clark's DNA.

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

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