Caitlin Clark Poked in the Eye, Pushed to the Floor During Tense WNBA Skirmish

Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever advanced to the Commissioner’s Cup Final after a grueling matchup with the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday, June 17.

Clark, 23, had 20 points and six assists in the 88-71 win that also saw her involved in repeated scuffles with the Sun’s Marina Mabrey, Jacy Sheldon and Tina Charles.

Clark and Sheldon first showed signs of tension on the court in the second quarter when they were seen exchanging words before Clark shoved Sheldon away.

The most dramatic incident in Tuesday’s game came in the third quarter when Clark was poked in the eye by Sheldon, 24. The Fever star grabbed her eye in a big reaction and the game officials called a foul on Sheldon, but things became more tense when Sheldon bumped Clark, who shoved her opponent away.

That’s when Mabrey, 28, came from behind Clark and bumped into her. Clark fell to the ground.

Mabrey and Clark were both assessed technical fouls for their part in the scuffle, and Sheldon was handed a flagrant 1 penalty, which gave the Fever a free throw and the ball back.

Charles, 36, was also given a technical foul for rushing to approach Clark during the skirmish.

Clark was asked about the tension with the Sun players during her postgame media availability, where she had a clear response. “You guys came for basketball, let’s talk about basketball,” Clark said on Tuesday.

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When one reporter asked her if she “feels like she has to stand up for herself” on the court, Clark replied, “At the end of the day, I’m here to play basketball and that’s what I’m going to do. My game’s gonna talk, and that’s all that really matters. I love this game and I’m gonna give it everything I have.”

Later in her media availability, Clark told reporters, “Come on now. We’re going to the Commissioner’s Cup Championship, that’s pretty exciting. Y’all wanna talk about that? Let’s talk about that.”

With their win on Tuesday, the Fever have advanced to the Commissioner’s Cup Final on July 1. It will be the first appearance for Indiana in the Final in the five years since the league introduced the Commissioner’s Cup.

Next, Clark and the Fever will take on the Golden State Valkyries on Thursday, June 19.