Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Fever Coach Has 2-Word Message For WNBA Refs After Caitlin Clark Controversy

Originally posted on The Spun | By Chris Rosvoglou | Last updated Jun 18, 2025 10:45 AM ET

There were plenty of fireworks during Tuesday's game between the Connecticut Sun and Indiana Fever. Unsurprisingly, Caitlin Clark was at the center of this dilemma.

With under five minutes remaining in the third quarter, Clark chirped at Jacy Sheldon after getting poked in the eye. That led to Marina Mabrey landing a cheap shot on Clark that sent her to the ground. Although it was an ugly scene, no one got ejected at that time.

It wasn't until the final minute of regulation that WNBA refs stepped in and ejected Sophie Cunningham for a flagrant foul on Sheldon.

While she would've been well within her right to do so, Clark wasn't interested in talking about the WNBA's officiating problem during her postgame press conference.

"You guys came for basketball, let’s talk about basketball," Clark said. "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."

Fever head coach Stephanie White, however, had no problem criticizing the refs for how they handled Tuesday's game.

During last night's media availability, White delivered this message to WNBA's refs: be better.

"I think it was pretty obvious that stuff was brewing, right? When the officials don't get control of the ballgame, when they allow that stuff to happen, and it's been happening all season long, all season long... It's not just this game. It's been happening all season long," White told reporters. "You've got competitive women who are the best in the world at what they do, and when you allow them to play physical, and you allow these things to happen, they're going to compete, and they're going to have their teammates' backs.

"It's exactly what you expect out of fierce competition. I started talking to the officials in the first quarter, and we knew this was going to happen. You could tell it was going to happen. So they got to get control of it. They got to be better."

WNBA fans are in agreement with White. They believe the league's officiating has been an issue this entire season.

Only time will tell if the WNBA adjusts the way it officiates altercations like the ones we saw in the Sun-Fever game.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: