Diana Taurasi‘s 20-year reign in the WNBA came to a close in February 2025, leaving behind a legacy of fiery play and a league-leading number of technical fouls. Known for her blunt, unapologetic style, Taurasi set a high bar for intensity on the court. Now, as the basketball world adjusts to her retirement, Caitlin Clark is stepping into the spotlight with a similar edge. The Indiana Fever star, who made waves in 2024 with six technical fouls, is already drawing comparisons to Taurasi, especially after her latest incident in a preseason game.
Clark’s rookie season saw her rack up techs for her fiery demeanor, narrowly avoiding a suspension with one more foul. Reflecting on her penalties during an appearance on the Bird and Taurasi Show, Clark shared, “Half of them weren’t even me talking to refs. Which was dumb.”
She listed offenses like slapping the stanchion and an accidental eye poke, noting the front office wouldn’t rescind any of her techs. Taurasi, playing oddsmaker, set Clark’s over/under for 2025 techs at 4.5, but Clark aimed lower. “I already told Steph (coach Stephanie White) two max,” she said, flashing a peace sign.
That goal took a hit in the Fever’s 81-76 preseason win over the Atlanta Dream. Clark, who scored 13 points, earned her first tech of the season in the second quarter after a turnover led to a layup by Bri Jones. Frustrated, she chucked the ball at the stanchion and exchanged words with the ref, who promptly issued the foul.
WNBA refs under fire again
Fever writer Chloe Peterson clarified that the tech stemmed from Clark’s comments to the ref, compounded by letting the ball roll on the court, possibly triggering a delay-of-game warning. A fan-shot video captured Clark walking away, visibly heated, as teammate Sophie Cunningham tried to calm her down.
Social media erupted with fan frustration over the call, reigniting debates about WNBA officiating. “Referee is fed with Caitlin Clark, well maybe if the referees were better the game would be,” one fan tweeted, adding, “GET BETTER REFEREES!” Clark’s father had previously echoed this sentiment, stating last season, “I think there’s a lot of room for improvement there, particularly in the officiating.”
Fans pointed to Clark’s history, like her 2023 NCAA Championship tech for flipping the ball behind her back, which ref Lisa Jones attributed to a prior delay-of-game warning. Another fan summed up the sentiment with, “And she still gets the worst whistle,” while a third called the call “absurd.” Preseason techs don’t count toward the regular season, but Clark’s “two max” promise may already be in jeopardy.
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