Caitlin Clark made headlines for more than her great all-around performance—she finished with 25 points on efficient shooting, 3 rebounds, 5 steals, and 1 block—against the Connecticut Sun. She was called for a technical foul with just 22 seconds left in the game, and called the decision to call her for a delay of game earlier in the fourth quarter “ridiculous” in the postgame media availability.
Clark has now been called for four technical fouls this season. The only other player who can match that number is Angel Reese, who just picked up her fourth technical a few days ago. Clark and Reese are strong, fiery personalities, and fans love them for it. Some in-game complaining and taunting is just part of the experience, much like it was with WNBA greats Diana Taurasi, Lisa Leslie, and Tina Thompson. Taurasi still leads the WNBA in career technical fouls, and Leslie and Thompson rank third and fifth, respectively.
But there’s a cost and a limit. $1,000 per technical foul after the third and eight calls, to be precise. Players are suspended for one game after receiving their eighth technical foul of the season. Clark and Reese are already halfway there. Seeing either suspended because of that would be bad for anyone (except their opponents), so it’s time both slow down with the technical fouls. If they keep going at this rate, both would earn their first suspension barely halfway through the season.
Reese and Clark are two of the most popular young stars in the WNBA. They draw fans to games—in arenas and at home—and the league doesn’t want to lose them for any game, especially if it’s not injury-related. The Dream and Fever would also be hurt by potential suspensions for Reese and Clark. Both contribute heavily to their teams’ success, and both organizations are looking to go on a deep playoff run.
Moreover, Clark and Reese themselves certainly won’t benefit from being suspended for technical fouls. They are competitors and don’t want to miss any chance to play and help their teams on the court.
Technical foul trouble isn’t new for Clark and Reese
Clark and Reese have been amassing technical fouls since they came into the WNBA in 2024. Reese was called for four technicals in her rookie season, but one was rescinded. In 2025, she was called for eight technical fouls and had to serve a one-game suspension during a game against the Fever on September 5.
Clark, meanwhile, was called for her first WNBA technical just four games into her rookie season and finished the year with six. Only Teaira McCowan and Natasha Cloud were called for more technicals (if we don’t count Diana Taurasi, who was called for seven but had one rescinded).
Last season, Clark only played 17 games and was called for two technical fouls. Fever head coach Stephanie White picked up the slack and warranted four technical foul calls.
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