Fever's Caitlin Clark sounds off on non-call in loss to Valkyries - ESPN

INDIANAPOLIS — Frustrated by a non-call midway through the second quarter of the Indiana Fever's 88-75 loss to the Golden State Valkyries on Wednesday night, Caitlin Clark threw a fist in the air and made a beeline toward an official.

Clark had been driving to the basket for a layup and hit the floor after contact with Kiah Stokes. The basket was good, but she didn't get a foul call. Clark limped back to the defensive end, and as soon as play was stopped by the next whistle, she immediately turned towar the official who was near on the other end of the court.

«The ref can't miss that… then I have to play with a contusion in my leg the rest of the game,» Clark said afterward. «It's ridiculous.… [The ref] said I initiated the contact. Which is fine, but you can't knee me in the leg. Knock me over.»

As frustrated as Clark was with the non-call, she didn't seem to be worried about her leg.

«Ah, we'll just rub it out,» Clark said with a smile. «Good old knuckles on it and call it a day.»

Fever coach Stephanie White added with a touch of sarcasm, «They said Caitlin initiated the contact. That's all they said. She seems to always be initiating the contact. I'm trying to not get fined. Again, all I'll say is that we just keep asking for consistency.»

Every time the three-time All-Star hits the floor, there's concern from Fever fans. Clark sat out three of the past six games and has been on a minutes restriction in the other three because of a back injury.

Before the game, Clark said she felt good but wasn't sure what her status would be for an upcoming back-to-back Friday and Saturday against the Seattle Storm and New York Liberty. Still, she hasn't been as effective as usual, shooting 35% from the field and 16% from beyond the