Caitlin Clark was glad her coach had her back.
The Fever rookie was visibly frustrated after she and Indiana head coach Christie Sides were both hit with technicals in a 103-88 blowout loss to the Storm on Thursday night.
“I feel like I’m getting hammered, I don’t know,” Clark said in a postgame press conference when a reporter asked about her and Seattle guard Victoria Vivians chirping at each other in the second quarter.
“I appreciate Christie getting a tech too. I don’t know.”
Caitlin Clark after a loss to the Storm on May 30, 2024.
With four minutes left before the half, and Indiana trailing 34-25, Clark hit a three-pointer with Vivians guarding her — and the pair each received a technical foul for jawing in each other’s faces while running back down the court.
Then, Sides received a tech with 2:28 left in the third quarter when she argued that Seattle’s Sami Whitcomb appeared to foul Clark multiple times while on offense.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) and Seattle Storm guard Victoria Vivians (35) exchange words in a heated moment during a game on May 30, 2024, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.Joe Timmerman/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK
Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever shoots the ball against Victoria Vivians #35 of the Seattle Storm during the first half in the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 30, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana.Getty Images
Sides was seen screaming at the referee before an assistant coach pulled her away while the Fever trailed the Storm, 71-52.
“That’s a foul,” announcer Debbie Antonelli said on the Amazon Prime broadcast.
“We’ve just got to get better with the officiating. We’ve got to get some of those calls,” Sides said after the Fever’s third consecutive loss. “I feel like they’re getting some calls that’s happening on our end as well, and I just don’t feel like we’re getting some of those.”
Indiana Fever head coach Christie Sides argues with the referees before receiving a technical foul, Thursday, May 30, 2024, during the WNBA game against the Seattle Storm at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.Joe Timmerman/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK
Fever coach Christie Sides is restrained as she talks with official Charles Watson after being assessed a technical foul during the second half against the Seattle Storm on Thursday, May 30, 2024, in Indianapolis.AP
Clark finished with 20 points, 6-of-17 shooting, three rebounds and nine assists.
The Iowa product — who was selected No. 1 overall by the Fever in the 2024 WNBA Draft — explained that she won’t change her competitive nature on the court after Indiana fell to 1-8.
“Yeah, two competitive people,” Clark said of her run-in with Vivians. “And they hit us with the double tech and that’s about it.”
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) and Seattle Storm guard Victoria Vivians (35) exchange words in a heated moment during a game on May 30, 2024, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.Joe Timmerman/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK
Seattle led Indiana 47-41 at halftime before opening the third quarter on a 12-2 run.
“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.”
Clark has been vocal with officials at the pro level, where she’s received a number of welcome-to-the-league moments.
Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever drives to the basket against Nika Muhl #1 and Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu #12 of the Seattle Storm during the second half in the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 30, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
