Fever guard Caitlin Clark and Storm guard Victoria Vivians were whistled for a double technical after they got in each others’ faces during Seattle’s 103-88 win on Thursday night.
Opposing defenses have been keyed in on stopping Clark, but she has started to find her shooting stroke over the past couple of games.
In the second quarter on Thursday, Clark had a stretch over about three-and-a-half minutes where she scored eight points on two long 3-pointers, plus a layup in between.
After the latter deep shot, she got in Vivians’ face and the two started jawing at each other.
Clark was restrained by her teammate, Aliyah Boston.
“You’ve got two competitive people,” Clark said of her run-in with Vivians after the Fever’s loss.
After Clark and Vivians were separated, Clark grinned and then motioned for the near-sellout Fever crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse to get loud.
Clark and Vivians had also been in each others’ faces during the first quarter before the tensions bubbled over.
The high-profile Fever rookie added another three before the night was over, totaling 20 points while playing all 40 minutes for the first time as a pro, but it was Vivians’ side that got the last laugh.
The Storm posted a season-high point total, led by Jewell Lloyd’s 22 points in sending Indiana to a 1-8 record, the second-worst record in the NBA.
“The third quarter was when we lost the game,” Clark said. “I just thought our defensive rotations were bad. … It’s not really about our offense. It was our defense. You’re not going to win a basketball game giving up 103.”
— with AP