Caitlin Clark’s Rookie Year Was Nearly Flawless—Except for One Key Issue, and Indiana Fever Is Making Sure It Doesn’t Happen Again
Not much went wrong during Caitlin Clark’s electric rookie campaign with the Indiana Fever. The former Iowa superstar set the WNBA on fire—earning a spot on the WNBA All-Star team, being named to the All-WNBA First Team, and shattering records seemingly every night. But amid all the accolades and jaw-dropping performances, one issue did emerge: technical fouls.
Clark was assessed six technical fouls during her rookie season—just one shy of the threshold for a one-game suspension. And as the undeniable engine of the Fever, her absence on the court would be a costly blow to the team.
Recognizing the fine line between competitive fire and costly frustration, new head coach Stephanie White addressed the issue during a recent appearance on the Good Follow Show. She emphasized the importance of helping Clark channel her passion constructively.
“The ones that happen in the heat of the moment—competitive, whatever—okay,” White said. “Yeah, we live with those. It’s the nagging ones, right? Like getting on the official and continuing to nag… That’s my job. So I think for me, it’s helping her navigate when to do it and when not to. Helping her maintain a constructive channel for a lot of that competitive spirit.”
White also shared that she’s encouraged Clark to seek guidance from none other than Tamika Catchings, the Fever legend and former WNBA MVP, who also played with a fiery edge.
“We’re not trying to stifle what makes her great,” White explained. “We just want to make sure it’s working for us, not against us.”
Clark herself seems well aware of the issue. During the NCAA Tournament Championship broadcast alongside legends Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird, she acknowledged her high number of techs and even set a goal for this season:
“I’m keeping it to two this year,” she confidently predicted.
Whether or not she meets that goal remains to be seen, but both Clark and the Fever are clearly making a focused effort to manage her emotions in a way that keeps her on the court—and keeps Indiana competitive.
