Caitlin Clark ‘should have been safer’ as fines reality dawns in defiant response to crazy online theories

There was no shortage of action during Indiana Fever’s matchup against the Golden State Valkyries on Friday night.

The Fever secured their third straight win after taking down the Valkyries, 90-82.

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Caitlin Clark again led the way with 22 points, two rebounds, nine assists, a steal, one block and four three-pointers in 32 minutes.

Clark, who was controversially ruled out late for Wednesday’s game against the Portland Fire – an issue she was forced to defend in her post game comments.

The 2024 Rookie of the Year also found herself in the middle of a heated altercation just before half time as she came face-to-face with Valkyries forward Janelle Salaun after a rebound play.

Salaun secured the board and did not appreciate Clark swiping at the ball and the Valkries star appeared to extend her elbow in Clark’s direction, which the Fever star took exception to.

Clark got in Salaun’s face, and the Valkyries forward refused to back down.

This led to a heated moment between the two, prompting teammates to separate them as they all headed to the locker rooms for the halftime break.

The pair were hit with technical fouls for the altercation, and per league rules, a player will receive a $500 fine for each of their first to third technical fouls of the season.

Friday’s call marked Clark’s second of the season, and after the game, she appeared to be surprised that she was handed a technical.

“Oh, did I get a technical?” Clark said, via ESPNW, with a bemused look on her face.

“No way, I could have gotten ejected I should have been a little safer in the second half.

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“Okay, well I guess I have some fines coming my way. I’m not gonna say anything else because I guess I have about $1000 of fines coming my way.

“I was just trying to get the rebound, I didn’t know I got a technical, thanks for letting me know.”

Clark speaks out on Wednesday’s late injury sctrach

Earlier in the week, the Fever were warned for not disclosing Clark’s injury status in time ahead of Wednesday’s game against the Portland Fire.

League guidelines state that a player injured needs to be reported by 5:00pm, the day before a game.

On Wednesday, Indiana announced that Clark, who will be grand marshal at this weekend’s Indy500 race, would be ruled out due to back issues just two hours before tip-off.

Indiana’s apparent mismanagement of the situation, and Clark’s injury issues on the whole, have led some to speculate over her future with the team.

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Hours before the Fever – Golden State Valkyries matchup on Friday, Clark spoke on the decision that led to her sitting out the Portland game.

“At the end of the day, it’s me and my confidence… coming back from three soft tissue injuries is a real mental challenge,” Clark told Fever beat writer Tony East.

“These are the best players in the world, and if I don’t feel 100% confident in my body for game five of the year, I don’t know if that’s really worth it in that scenario.”

Clark added that she texted her mother about not playing in the Portland game just 40 minutes before the rest of the world found out about her late scratch.

“Woke up Tuesday, was a little sore, texted our training staff, I had PT at home. Then I came down here at like one o’clock, and tried to do everything I can, got on the court, I lifted, and went through a hard workout.

“I actually went back and looked, because of all these narratives that are going crazy online, about when I told my mom I wasn’t gonna play the game.

“4:47, you guys found out at 5:20. So one of the most important people of my life found out 40 minutes before you guys.”

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