The WNBA has rescinded the technical foul assessed to Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark during Saturday’s game against the Chicago Sky, a source confirmed to USA TODAY Sports reporter Mitchell Northam.
Northam reported that the technical, which would have been Clark’s eighth of the season, has been overturned by the league office. The decision means Clark will not face an automatic one-game suspension.
The technical was called late in the third quarter of the Fever’s 90-86 victory at the United Center. Clark drove baseline past Sky guard Natasha Cloud, absorbed contact and made incidental contact with an official as her momentum carried her out of bounds.
Officials assessed the technical for what they described as excessive contact with a forearm. Clark immediately questioned the call on the floor.
After the game, Clark told ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe the contact was not intentional.
“She said I ran into her. I’ve already watched it on the tape. So, we’ll let the league decide. But, it wasn’t anything intentional or anything. So, I hope it gets rescinded. And, nothing was said,” Clark said.
Fever coach Stephanie White also received a technical foul while arguing the sequence. White called the decision on Clark a bad one.
“That’s a bad call, incidental contact when you’re flying out of control,” White said. “I thought her teammates should have come up and talked to her about that as well. I think that’s really bad. That (expletive) happens all the time in the game. You know, officials have to have some awareness in those moments, and it didn’t happen.”
Under WNBA rules for the 2026 season, a player or coach is automatically suspended for one game upon receiving an eighth technical foul in the regular season. The fine for an eighth technical is $1,500. Subsequent even-numbered technicals also trigger additional one-game suspensions.
Clark entered the Sky game with seven technicals, matching Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese for the league lead. The eighth would have forced her to miss Tuesday’s home game against the New York Liberty at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The league reviews all technical fouls after each game. Teams may submit additional information and request that a call be overturned. The Fever had previously appealed at least one of Clark’s earlier technicals this season without success.
Clark finished Saturday’s contest with 26 points and 11 assists, marking her ninth double-double of the season. She shot 7 of 15 from the field, including 5 of 6 from 3-point range. Teammate Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever with 27 points, extending her WNBA-record streak of consecutive 20-point games to 16.
The victory improved Indiana to 20-12. Clark is averaging 21.5 points, 8.0 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game through 28 appearances this season while playing 30.3 minutes a night.
Clark’s technical foul total has been a recurring storyline. She collected six technicals as a rookie in 2024 and two in a injury-shortened 2025 campaign limited to 13 games. This season’s pace has placed her on pace to set a career high.
The league has rescinded five technical fouls league-wide earlier in 2026, according to tracking data. Those involved players and a coach from other teams.
Clark’s availability for the Liberty matchup preserves a key matchup between two of the Eastern Conference’s stronger clubs. The Fever sit near the top of the conference standings alongside several contenders.
The decision also avoids a financial and competitive hit for the 24-year-old star, who has remained one of the league’s primary drawing cards and statistical leaders in assists.
Northam indicated a fuller story on the league’s ruling was forthcoming. The rescission returns Clark’s technical foul count to seven for the remainder of the regular season.
Clark has spoken previously about managing her emotions and competitive fire while navigating physical play and officiating decisions. The latest episode tested that balance once more before the league ultimately sided with the review.
The Fever next host New York on Tuesday before continuing a stretch of games that will shape their playoff positioning.
