Indiana Fever coach condemns WNBA referees after Caitlin Clark’s injury and missed foul

On June 24‑25, 2026, the Indiana Fever fell 111‑109 to the Phoenix Mercury at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. During the game, Fever star Caitlin Clark was struck in the throat by a fist from Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas and later received a knee to the groin, followed by a back injury that forced her to leave the contest. No foul was called on the incidents. Fever head coach Stephanie White denounced the officiating, calling the plays “cheap shots,” “absolutely unacceptable,” and saying “We have a generational talent and a WNBA superstar who had two cheap shots … it’s crazy. The fist in the throat is crazy. It’s dangerous.”

The controversy intensified after the league upheld a technical foul assessed to Clark for “clapping” and omitted her from the WNBA’s 30‑year anniversary poster, prompting widespread fan backlash and media commentary about the league’s treatment of its marquee player. The incident has reignited debate over officiating consistency and player safety in the WNBA.

Clark, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft, continues to drive record viewership and attendance for the league, underscoring the broader stakes of the dispute.