Caitlin Clark calls out referees for failing to call foul on play she says gave her a contusion
Caitlin Clark directly called out a referee for missing a call against her after a loss on Wednesday night.
Clark was seen yelling demonstratively in the face of a referee after a play against Golden State veteran Kiah Stokes. Clark said she was "kneed in the quad" after the game and suffered a contusion.
"I got kneed right in the quad, that hurts, the ref can’t miss that," she told reporters.
"And then I have to play with a contusion in my leg for the rest of the game. Ridiculous, you can’t miss calls like that."
Clark was seen taking a brief trip to the locker room after the play, as she continues to work her way back to full strength and health after suffering a back injury in June.
Clark was asked if she got an explanation on the no-call, and said she told that she herself initiated the contact.
"You can’t knee me in the leg and knock me over," Clark said.
Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White addressed the explanation herself.
"Seems to always be initiating the contact," White said sarcastically of the decision.
Footage of Clark yelling at the referee went viral on social media, sparking debate and opposing critcisms, as some fans condemned the referee for missing the call while others questioned Clark's behavior.
Clark finished with 13 points and six assists, going just 4-for-14 from the field and 1-of-8 from three-point range. She scored 11 points after coming back from the locker room with the apparent contusion.
Tensions have been high in the WNBA in recent weeks after Clark was punched in the throat by Phoenix Mercury star Alyssa Thomas, and referees did not call it a foul in the moment.
Thomas was later suspended for one game, but the WNBA put out a statement in defense of Thomas from alleged harassment and threats she had apparently been receiving since punching Clark in the throat.
Clark meanwhile is playing while still not fully healthy, as she played on a minutes restriction for three straight games in her return from injury.
76ers orthopedic consultant Dr. Nicholas DiNubile previously told Fox News Digital that he is "concerned" with the amount of contact Clark has been taking from other players.
"The type of contact and the amount of contact that she gets is concerning to me. It’s troubling to me," DiNubile said.
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"I don't think there's anything she can do...It's hard to protect yourself with those type of... And that's why they're flagrant fouls, right? You just... There, there's no way to really protect yourself in those instances... she takes it in stride. I don't think she brings any of it on herself."
DiNubile's opinion is that the league has to do a better job of actively protecting Clark, via the referees, in order to avoid disaster.
"I think they should be calling things," he said. "They can officiate better... I mean, how do they miss this?"
