Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark found herself at the center of a contentious foul call late in overtime on Sunday, a moment that left ESPN broadcasters surprised and nearly cost her team the game against the Atlanta Dream.
With 10.4 seconds remaining in overtime and the Fever holding a five-point lead, Clark was whistled for a shooting foul on Atlanta’s Rhyne Howard, who was attempting a three-point shot. The call, which involved what broadcasters described as light contact on Howard’s back, was immediately challenged by the Fever. However, the referees upheld the call after a review.
"Oh, I don’t see anything there," ESPN play-by-play announcer Ryan Ruocco stated during the broadcast as replays were shown. "There’s a little bit of contact…"
Analyst and Hall of Famer Rebecca Lobo agreed, calling the contact "less than contact, it’s a touch." She added, "And you don’t call that all game long, I would be surprised if they don’t overturn it here." Both Ruocco and Lobo expressed surprise when the call was ultimately sustained.
Lobo further commented that the contact "does not impact at all the balance with which Howard takes the shot." The broadcasters noted that Howard’s shooting motion seemed unaffected by the touch, with Lobo describing it as "almost like fingertips on a keyboard."
Despite the controversial call, Howard made all three free throws, narrowing the Dream’s deficit to two points. Clark then secured the victory for the Fever by making two free throws of her own, sealing a 95-91 win for Indiana.
Clark, who finished with a team-high 26 points, nine assists, and nine rebounds in the game, appeared visibly disbelief at the foul call, holding her arms out in exasperation. This incident follows another notable foul call against Clark eight days prior, when a technical foul for bumping a referee was initially assessed but later rescinded by the WNBA. That initial technical would have triggered an automatic one-game suspension, but its rescission left her with seven technicals for the season.
Clark's scoring and playmaking were crucial for the Fever, who have been a focal point of league attention since her draft. The team's performance, often accompanied by close games and significant media coverage, continues to draw national viewership.