Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark is one foul away from an automatic suspension.
Clark received her seventh technical foul of the WNBA season in Wednesday's game against the Connecticut Sun. WNBA rules enforce a one-game suspension and a $1,500 fine once a player reaches 8 technicals. But Clark said Wednesday that she won't stop being a competitor.
At the end of the third quarter of Wednesday's game, Clark advanced the ball into the perimeter while being guarded by the Sun's Saniya Rivers. She was fouled by the Connecticut Sun's Olivia Nelson-Ododa, who switched on to her.
After passing the ball to an official at the end line, she pointed Rivers out to a nearby official. Rivers looked at Clark and began trash-talking. Clark could be seen mouthing the words "Look up at the scoreboard" when the Fever were leading 95-67 at the time.
Clark's teammates held her back; the referee blew his whistle and gave both Clark and Rivers technical fouls.
The Fever went on to win the game, 123-88.
Upon reaching 8 techs, a player receives a $1,500 fine and a one-game suspension; from then on, each subsequent foul carries a $1,500 fine, while every two techs merits both the fine and a one-game suspension.
But Clark said the harsh punishments are not going to change her personality or style of play.
"I'm never going to back down," she said. "I think, just continue to try to control your emotions the best [I] can, and that intensity and that fire is what makes me, me. But also knowing my team needs me and finding a good balance of that. But I don't think I'm going to be playing with that in the back of my head. I think that might hinder my play a little bit. So I think just continue to be myself, and then just try to refocus on my teammates and how I can help them."
She would not predict whether or not she would hit that point in the future.
"No, I don't know," she said. "I can't predict the future. You've got to ask a magic 8-ball."