Caitlin Clark commits violent act against ex-teammate as tense playoff clash with Aces reaches fever pitch
The Indiana Fever’s Game 3 clash against the Las Vegas Aces didn’t take long to turn physical on Thursday when Caitlin Clark was caught shoving a rival.
The Fever faced the Aces in the decisive game of their opening best-of-three WNBA playoff series in Las Vegas with a spot in the semifinals on the line.
And the pressure of the occasion appeared to get to Indiana’s biggest superstar as she was caught in an altercation with one of her rivals.
With 6:54 remaining in the first quarter, the Fever point guard took issue with Aces star Brianna Turner after she attempted to muscle in on Indiana’s huddle.
Clark and her teammates had gathered by the center logo as Turner, their former teammate, lingered on the edge of their huddle seemingly trying to listen into their conversation during a stoppage in play.
As the Fever stars broke apart, Clark was visibly furious and shockingly turned to shove Turner backwards.
Caitlin Clark was captured shoving her Las Vegas Aces rival Brianna Turner in Game 3
Clark and the Fever faced the Aces in the decisive game of their opening playoff series
Both Clark and Turner were assessed technicals following a review from the officials.
Players are allowed four technical fouls before receiving a mandatory one-game suspension. Clark was already assessed a technical for arguing a call in Game 2.
The incident was just the latest in a series of agitated sniping between the two teams throughout their postseason matchup.
During Tuesday’s Game 2, Fever star Myisha Hines-Allen was caught getting physical with Aces superstar A’ja Wilson towards the end of the first quarter – much to the delight of her Indiana teammates.
The Fever forward was seen muscling into the reigning MVP as she tried to set a screen for her Aces teammate Jackie Young.
Hines-Allen, who is the sister of NFL defensive end Josh Hines-Allen, repeatedly shoved Wilson’s arms away before grabbing her around the waist and appearing to push her rival from behind.
The violent move sparked a furious reaction from the Aces who quickly surrounded Hines-Allen and tried to confront her.
However, it only served to fire up the Fever as Clark was seen applauding the move, while Sophie Cunningham gestured to the Gainbridge Fieldhouse crowd to raise the volume.
Later in the game, Wilson was seen storming towards a fan who was seated in the second row, pointing at him and shouting, ‘You don’t point at me,’ towards him during the fourth quarter of the game.
The Fever point guard took issue with Turner trying to infiltrate the Indiana huddle
The Indiana Fever’s Game 2 playoff clash against the Las Vegas Aces also saw tensions rise
Wilson was caught in a heated confrontation with a fan during Game 2 against the Fever
Join the discussion
What should be the consequences when athletes let emotions boil over on the court during high-stakes games?
The Aces superstar was assessed a technical foul for the confrontation on Tuesday but was not ejected.
According to ESPN, Wilson did not leave the designated court area during the heated exchange and did not step into the stands.
The incident came with 4:10 to play in the fourth quarter when the fan in question appeared to say something to Wilson after Cunningham was called for a foul.
Wilson then charged toward the fan and began jabbing her finger at him as she screamed at him.
Two of her teammates, an assistant coach and security quickly moved to separate everyone.
The fan was eventually escorted from courtside by security staff but was ultimately allowed to return to the bowl.
‘Following a report of a comment directed toward a player, arena security spoke with the fan involved and witnesses,’ the Fever said in a statement. ‘Security determined there was no violation of the Fan Code of Conduct, the fan was not removed from the arena. We consider the matter closed.
