Stephanie White Blasts WNBA Refs After 111-109 Loss as Caitlin Clark Exits With Back Injury
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 25
Stephanie White Blasts WNBA Refs After 111-109 Loss as Caitlin Clark Exits With Back Injury
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 25
Summary
111-109 home loss to Phoenix ended with Caitlin Clark leaving in the third quarter with a back injury after taking several hard, uncalled hits, including contact White described as a fist to the throat.
White said two second-quarter plays showed a pattern of Clark being officiated differently: Alyssa Thomas appeared to knee Clark and push a closed fist into her neck, and a review kept Valeriane Ayayi's landing-space foul as common.
19 points in 20 minutes underscored Clark's impact before she exited; the 2024 Rookie of the Year is averaging 21.2 points and 8.2 assists after missing time last season with groin and ankle injuries and sitting out a game last month with back issues.
WNBA officiating was already under scrutiny after last year's complaints about physicality and inconsistency, and after Monday's Fever-Mercury game produced six technical fouls and one ejection, White said the league still has not delivered the consistency coaches sought.