Caitlin Clark’s frustrations with WNBA officials reached a boiling point in another tense matchup against Connecticut. Early in the game, a controversial call went against her. She insisted she hadn’t touched the ball, but the refs didn’t review it. A few plays later, another out-of-bounds call sparked more debate. Clark stayed composed at first but pushed back during a stoppage, calling out the official for a previous bad call. The ref appeared to respond with something dismissive, possibly suggesting Clark was underperforming and venting. That set her off. She snapped back, accusing him of being out of line and making it personal. Cameras picked up her saying, “That’s just rude. Grow up.”
The sequence ended with a replay review overturning the original call and awarding the ball to Connecticut. The official who made the original call stepped back awkwardly while the decision was under review, clearly aware he blew it. Later in the game, more questionable moments stacked up. Sophie Cunningham took an elbow to the head directly in front of an official, but no foul was called. Frustrated, she questioned the non-call but got no answer. A few plays later, she was bumped out of bounds under the basket. Again, no whistle. Cunningham looked around in disbelief, clearly fed up.
The officiating decisions throughout the game seemed one-sided to many watching. There was a sense that Clark and her team weren’t getting a fair whistle. The tension between Clark and the refs is becoming a recurring theme, with this game adding another chapter to a growing list of complaints.