Fever's White blasts refs, Mercury's 'cheap shots' on Clark - ESPN

Fever coach Stephanie White went off on officials for not calling what she deemed two «cheap shots» on star guard Caitlin Clark in Wednesday night's 111-109 loss to the Phoenix Mercury in Indianapolis, where Clark exited in the second half because of back issues.

White said Wednesday's game continued a pattern of Clark being officiated differently than the rest of the WNBA players.

«We have a generational talent and WNBA superstar who had two cheap shots [against her] right there that weren't called,» White said. «Absolutely unacceptable.»

Clark left the game with 5:15 left in the third quarter and did not return. White said she wasn't sure if the two plays, which occurred in the second quarter, had any impact on Clark's health but said they were «egregious.»

With 6:52 left in the second period, Clark drove into the lane and stumbled onto her side after some contact with defender Lexi Held. Held, DeWanna Bonner and Alyssa Thomas collapsed on Clark in pursuit of the ball. Amid the scramble, Thomas appeared to push her fist into Clark's neck, then got up and stepped over the top of Clark.

«No. 1, you've got to call it. It's absolutely egregious and utterly disrespectful,» White said, adding that the officials later told her they didn't see what Thomas did.

Moments later, with 6:25 left, Phoenix defender Valeriane Ayayi closed out on Clark's 3-point attempt and Clark landed on Ayayi's foot. A foul was called and the play was reviewed, but it was not upgraded as a reckless closeout. Clark made all three free throws.

White said she spoke to the officials at halftime about both plays.

«Yet we still had 11 fouls in the fourth quarter to their two,» White said. «They still shot 24 free throws in the second half.»

Wednesday night