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  Debate

Debate

Indiana Fever rookie's repeated mistakes—Is it time for tougher consequences to teach her a lesson?

Throughout her rookie season, Caitlin Clark has been a sheer reflection of nothing but competitiveness. But will that be okay if she sets on a track to fade it all? Alongside her record-breaking year, Clark has also been registering some technical fouls. And, now she stands on the verge of a suspension.

The Fever rookie has managed to keep the Aces on her toes in today’s game. She has also attracted herself to boatloads of scrutiny with another technical foul this season. Turns out, she hit the stanchion under the hoop after a foul was called against her, leading to both a personal and a technical. And now, she is one whistle away from getting a suspension.

This has made her technical count to a total of six. With this, Caitlin Clark has now tied for the second most technicals alongside Diana Taurasi and Kahleah Copper. But it is Mercury’s Natasha Cloud who leads the league in this aspect as she has already been suspended for a game this season.

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The last time Clark had a technical was last month in a game against Seattle Storm. Head Coach Christie Sides had expressed the rookie needing to watch her step. “Caitlin’s a fierce competitor, and that’s what sets her apart. But there’s a balance. We can’t afford to have her sitting out because of avoidable fouls,” she had said.

But seems like the rookie couldn’t hold in the fierceness as she couldn’t follow up on her pre-game conversation with Sides. “I mean, we talk about her competitive spirit a lot. We didn’t want her to pick up those technical fouls… We don’t want her, nobody wants her to sit out, and I think it’s just a conversation about, you know, what the result will be if you get those and she understands.”

So where could things lead Clark to, if she again commits a technical with only two games left in the regular season and the playoffs coming up after that?

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Indiana Fever rookie's repeated mistakes—Is it time for tougher consequences to teach her a lesson?

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Caitlin Clark must tread cautiously

Looking at the current situation, if Clark picks up one more technical foul, then, she will have to sit out for one game. However, this rule applies only to the Fever’s upcoming games against Dallas on Sunday and Washington next week as the technical foul rule resets for the playoffs.

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So, how many technical fouls call for a suspension in the WNBA? A player stands suspended for one game after they pick seven technical fouls in a season. Post their initial suspension, the player faces recurring fine if they get a 9th, 11th, and 13th technical foul in the process.

This will be marked as, $200 each for a technical between 1-3, $400 each for a foul between 4-6, and $800 each for seven and more. So, looking at Clark’s technicals this season, which is 6, she has already signed up to pay $1800 as fine.

Now, given the gravity of the situation, Caitlin Clark can’t afford to make a technical any further, as with her sidelined, the Fever won’t be able to handle the pressure for long with the playoffs coming up.

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Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger