A brutal semifinal clash saw Caitlin Clark poked in the eye, shoved to the floor, and still leading Indiana Fever to victory—while officials failed to control escalating violence.
At a Glance
- Caitlin Clark was poked in the eye by Jacy Sheldon, who was assessed a flagrant 1 foul
- Marina Mabrey shoved Clark to the ground, further escalating tensions
- Four players were ejected after multiple altercations, including Sheldon and Sophie Cunningham
- Indiana Fever defeated Connecticut Sun 88-71 to reach the Commissioner’s Cup final
- Fever coach Stephanie White blasted the officiating crew for failing to protect players
Clark Attacked in Ugly Semifinal
The WNBA’s Commissioner’s Cup semifinal between Indiana Fever and Connecticut Sun turned ugly when Caitlin Clark was poked in the eye by Jacy Sheldon in the third quarter. The play sent Clark crumpling to the floor. Moments later, Marina Mabrey shoved her while she was still down.
After review, officials upgraded the initial personal foul to a flagrant 1 against Sheldon. Clark responded by hitting her free throws and helping the Fever extend their lead. Watch a report: Clark Battles Through Violent Cup Semifinal.
Officials Lose Grip on Chaos
The game spiraled further as officials failed to curb the rising tensions. A hard foul by Indiana’s Sophie Cunningham on Sheldon in the final minute triggered a full-blown scuffle that resulted in the ejections of Sheldon, Cunningham, and Connecticut’s Lindsay Allen.
“I think that it was pretty obvious that stuff was brewing,” said Fever coach Stephanie White. “When the officials don’t get control of the ballgame, when they allow that stuff to happen.” White sharply criticized the referees postgame for failing to protect Clark and other players.
Clark’s Grit Leads Fever to Victory
Despite the repeated targeting, Clark showed her trademark toughness—absorbing the abuse, hitting critical shots, and guiding Indiana to an 88-71 win over Connecticut. She was even assessed a technical foul after responding to Sheldon’s eye poke—another questionable call in a night marked by chaotic officiating.
“There wasn’t an explanation for the tech that she got,” White noted. “They’ve got to get control of it, and they’ve got to be better. They’ve got to be better.”
Looking Ahead: Fever vs. Lynx
Indiana now advances to face the Minnesota Lynx in the Commissioner’s Cup championship. The WNBA’s spotlight will burn even brighter after this game’s drama. Whether league officials will better protect Clark—and restore order on the court—remains to be seen.
With Clark driving record fan interest, the league faces a choice: allow games to become reckless spectacles, or ensure stars can shine without fear of injury. The next matchup may prove decisive—for both the Fever’s title hopes and the WNBA’s credibility.
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Author: Editor
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