With Caitlin Clark leading the charge, the Indiana Fever is one step away from entering the WNBA playoffs for the first time in seven years. However, with only two games left in the regular season, the team is at risk of losing its star rookie, all because of her bad temper.

We must admit that Clark had a difficult start in the WNBA. The league veterans did not hesitate to make life difficult for her in her first weeks as a professional. Clark endured the hazing, and little by little, she showed what she could contribute to the Fever.

However, from the first moment, it was also clear that her bad temper is a more dangerous enemy for the former Iowa Hawkeyes star than any opposing defense. With the regular season just one step away, Clark has six technical fouls and is just one away from earning a one-game suspension.

The Fever guard earned her sixth technical in Friday night’s game against the Las Vegas Aces, leaving her and her team in a very precarious situation heading into their final two games, against the Dallas Wings and the Washington Mystics, in that order.

Caitlin Clark vs. the referees

 

Clark earned her sixth technical in the first quarter of the game against the Aces. After committing her second personal foul, the player stepped out of the court and hit the base of the basket with both hands.

In the post-game press conference, Clark admitted that she needs to better manage her emotions, but she also showed some frustration with the refereeing job. “So, I think I could have done a better job keeping my emotions in check, but at the same time, like, really?”

She explained that she unsuccessfully tried to get the game officials to reverse their decision. “Well, I mean, they’re never gonna overturn that. It’s just one of the rules of the game…It is what it is. That’s why, I mean, I tried to get my last one taken away. They just didn’t take it away.”

Clark’s bad temper

 

This is the second time the Fever star has received a technical foul for the exact same reason. Clark earned her fifth technical of the season in the game on August 18 against the Seattle Storm, when she also hit the base of the basket with both hands.

The decision raised some controversy at the time. The team’s management and some analysts considered the punishment against Clark excessive, while some fans criticized the player for her immaturity.

Not everything is lost for the Fever or Clark. The only thing the player needs to do is control her temper in her game against the Wings, and the technical foul counter will reset in the postseason, so she will be able to play more relaxed against the Mystics. Will she manage to do it?