Things got chippy in the Indiana Fever vs. Connecticut Sun game, and Caitlin Clark was shoved down on the court.
It had been brewing throughout the Tuesday, June 17 matchup at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, as Clark had exchanged words with Connecticut players in a few instances. Late in the third quarter, Clark was dribbling around the perimeter with Sun guard Jacy Sheldon guarding her. Sheldon made incidental contact with Clark’s face, which frustrated the Fever star.
A foul was called and Clark shoved Sheldon as she confronted her. But right afterward, Sun forward Marina Mabrey jumped in and pushed Clark down on the floor. Fever and Sun players then got tangled up before the situation got de-escalated.
The officials reviewed the play and ruled a flagrant foul on Sheldon, and double technical fouls on Clark and Connecticut center Tina Charles. Mabrey was charged with a technical foul, which confused the broadcast crew as they believed Mabrey would be ejected for the incident. The crowd also booed the decision.
Clark shot three free throws as a result and made all three attempts.
Later in the game, Clark made a 3-pointers and had some words for Sheldon and the rest of the Connecticut bench.
Late scuffle happens with Sophie Cunningham, Jacy Sheldon
The tension continued into the final minute of the contest. Sheldon made a steal and was driving on a fastbreak with Fever guard Sophie Cunningham defending her. As Sheldon went for the layup, Cunningham wrapped her arms around her in a hard foul. Sheldon and teammate Lindsay Allen immediately confronted Cunningham as both teams got in the mix-up and words were exchanged.
The play went under review and Cunningham, Sheldon and Allen were ejected from the game before it ended in an 88-71 Indiana win.
This story has been updated with new information to include the late fourth-quarter interaction between the Sun and Fever.
