The Las Vegas Aces visited Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever on Wednesday, looking to get back in the win column and spark a run at the tail end of the season.
Las Vegas went into the matchup having already defeated the Fever twice in the season series. While Indiana picked up an early lead in the first quarter, it was all Aces, all night.
The Aces went into the locker room at halftime leading 41-32. The Fever clapped back in a lengthy third quarter that put them back in the mix, but Las Vegas continued to strengthen its lead.
When the score was 61-52 in favor of the Aces with 1:06 minutes left in the third quarter, the game paused for a coach’s challenge.
Indiana’s Aliyah Boston was tangled up with an Aces player on the defensive end and was called for her fifth foul of the night.
Just before the referees gave the ball to the Aces to attempt a free throw, Sides challenged the call, causing Becky Hammon to go haywire.
Hammon was immediately frustrated with the call once the referees awarded Sides and the Indiana Fever the challenge. She threw her arms up in the air and was vocal about the official’s decision.
After walking up to the officials in complaint, Hammon received her fifth technical foul of the season.
The veteran head coach is now flirting with a suspension. If she were to pick up seven technical fouls in the season, Hammon would be facing a one-game suspension without pay.
The Aces have four games left in the WNBA season, with another matchup against the Indiana Fever on Friday.
If Hammon isn’t careful, she could be inching at a game away from the sideline.
Las Vegas currently stands as the No. 4 team in the WNBA standings with a 23-13 record.
The defending champions are looking to make another run at the title this season, so the loss of Hammon, for any matchup, would surely backtrack the team.