Caitlin Clark scores 24 to lead Indiana as DeWanna Bonner clashes with Fever stars in wild fourth quarter
Indiana Fever beat Phoenix Mercury 86-77 on Monday night but what stands out -most There was animosity between the two teams. Lost in the chaos was another dominant performance from Caitlin Clark, who finished with 24 points and 9 assists to help Indiana secure the victory.
With seven minutes left in the fourth quarter, Clark and Mercury forward DeWanna Bonner were locked in a physical possession.
The bad blood boiled instantly.
Caitlin Clark fires up the home crowd as fire battles Mercury in Indianapolis. (Photo: Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) ((Photo: Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images))
Clark remained where he was, the two men talked to each other, and the officials gave Clark his fifth technical foul of the season.
Clark and Bonner famously got into it during a physical postseason confrontation in 2024, including shoving and slapping.
MERCURY STAR WAS REMOVING DEWANNA BONNER FOR BREAKING THE TEAM AFTER 9 MATCHES
Add in Bonner’s brief and complicated stint as Clark’s teammate at Indiana before leaving town, and the surge was hardly surprising.
“Enforcer” Fire guardian Sophie Cunningham didn’t sit by and watch her superstar get pushed around.
Before the Clark-Bonner scene, Cunningham entered the fray and pointed directly at Bonner, who continued barking at officials as his teammates tried to pull him away.
Cameras later caught Cunningham laughing as Bonner’s anger escalated, and both players were given technical fouls.
Sophie Cunningham warms up and prepares for battle before Fire hosts Mercury. (Photo: AJ Mast/NBAE via Getty Images) ((Photo: AJ Mast/NBAE via Getty Images))
Mercury star and Bonner’s girlfriend Alyssa Thomas rushed to defend Bonner. Indiana forward Myisha Hines-Allen joined the attack.
Referees started calling technical fouls like free samples, slapping double technicals on Thomas and Hines-Allen.
After a few seconds, Hines-Allen decided he was done talking and pushed Bonner. Because he had received a technical foul a few minutes earlier, the push counted as his second of the night and he was automatically ejected from the game.
One of Caitlin Clark’s greatest enemies is a former teammate. (Photo: Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images) ((Photo: Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images))
CAITLIN CLARK PUSHES HER EYES AND PUSHES HER TO THE FLOOR IN CONFLICT WITH SUN PLAYERS
All the whistles, evaluations and shots turned the last period into a full marathon. The fourth quarter alone stretched to 44 minutes.
When asked about the junior end, Clark focused on the referee and the stop-start pace of the game.
“Obviously, I appreciate the referees just calling fouls,” Clark said.
She also joked that the game might have had the longest fourth quarter in WNBA history.
Despite the chaos jeopardizing Indiana’s momentum, Clark made sure the Fever remained focused on the only thing that mattered.
“Just focus on the goals,” Clark added. “To win this game.”
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WNBA rivalries and personalities… Monday night’s showdown made good use of both.
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