No Suspensions Following Incident in Game Between Fever and Sun
The WNBA has confirmed that there will be no suspensions for the players involved in the altercations that occurred during Tuesday’s game between the Indiana Fever and the Connecticut Sun. The incidents, which included one in the last minute of the game, resulted in the ejection of three players.
Sophie Cunningham, an Indiana player, received a flagrant foul 2 and was ejected for a hard foul on Jacy Sheldon from Connecticut. In addition to the ejection, Cunningham was fined.
Marina Mabrey of Connecticut’s technical foul for pushing Caitlin Clark to the ground early in the game was also reclassified as a flagrant 2 foul.
The tension and physical play were constant throughout the match, which ended with six technical fouls and two flagrant fouls.
The altercations began in the third quarter, when Sheldon touched Clark in the eye. Clark pushed Sheldon, and then Mabrey pushed Clark to the ground.
Clark, Mabrey, and Tina Charles received technical fouls, while Sheldon received a flagrant foul 1. Referee Ashley Gloss stated that Mabrey’s contact did not warrant ejection nor meet the criteria for a flagrant foul 2.
The game culminated in a major altercation at the end, when Cunningham committed a hard foul on Sheldon. Sheldon and Lindsay Allen were ejected for “escalating” the incident.
After the game, both Fever and Sun staff criticized the refereeing for allowing tensions to escalate. Indiana coach Stephanie White commented that “everyone [in the league] is getting better, except the referees.” White has not been fined for those comments.
The Sun will play on Wednesday against Phoenix Mercury. The Fever will travel to the west coast to face Golden State on Thursday.
