Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark returned to the court on Wednesday night in Indianapolis. As seen in previous games, referees seemed unsupportive of Clark, even during apparent fouls. In a game against the Phoenix Mercury, Clark started strong before facing a controversial moment.

While driving towards the basket, Clark lost her balance amid attempts by three Mercury players to strip the ball, which they succeeded in doing. Alyssa Thomas of the Mercury engaged in further actions, notably shoving Clark into the neck and stepping over her. This occurred as the ball rolled away on the court.

A video replay captured these events clearly, but no foul was called, despite an official being present on the baseline. The lack of a call led to widespread criticism on social media. Dave Portnoy of Barstool Sports tweeted his disapproval, highlighting Clark’s treatment and the broader implications for women’s basketball.

Others echoed this sentiment, emphasizing their disbelief at the situation. One Twitter user described Thomas’s actions as ‘beyond criminal’ and accused the league of being rigged.

Clark, experienced in handling physical play without calls, saw further controversy with a technical foul during a previous game against the Mercury. The league currently reviews this foul, related to an incident involving ‘clapping and instigating.’ Multiple players received technicals in that moment, with some later ejected.

Despite a precedent where Dallas Wings’ Paige Bueckers had a similar technical rescinded, the focus on Clark’s instigating remains in consideration. This oversight during Wednesday’s game, where Thomas’s actions went unpunished, heightened frustrations.

Clark exited the game in the third quarter due to a back injury, ending with 19 points and eight assists. The incident continues to spark dialogue around officiating standards in the WNBA.