Barely 3 minutes into the matchup, Grace Berger found Paige Bueckers on the arc for a 3-pointer with Sophie Cunningham guarding her. The defender, per the rules, should allow the shooter enough space to land on their feet, or else the reckless close-out becomes a case of flagrant-1 foul. That’s exactly what happened as Bueckers fell while landing. Despite Cunningham being squarely focused on the ball,  referee Eric Brewton whistled the expected call. Bueckers, as a result, made three free throws for a 7-4 Wings lead. The early officiating clearly did a number on Fever HC Stephanie White. The rest of the game wasn’t easy on her either.

The boiling point reached before halftime. With 50 seconds left in the second quarter, Cunningham drove into the paint for a layup with Bueckers actively guarding her. Cunningham succeeded in entering and putting the ball in, and the game continued. But White was visibly frustrated. Walking towards the referee, White raised her hands and bent to seemingly show how Bueckers guarded Cunningham with her body and not her hands. What many noticed, though, was how she even entered the lines. And that’s when the tables flipped.

Usually, it is Caitlin Clark who needs to be stopped from sparking a strong debate. But on Tuesday night, the point guard, who was out for her 20th game this season, pulled White off the floor. Assistant coach, Karima Christmas-Kelly, quickly stood in front of them to avoid the referee from seeing what was happening. In turn, the two avoided a technical foul, or worse, an ejection, being called against the heated head coach.

But while one superstar was playing peacemaker, the other was at the center of a new storm on the court.

With 1:38 left in the second quarter, Paige Bueckers drove into the paint against Kelsey Mitchell. Her layup did not go in, but while taking the shot, she leaned into Mitchell to potentially grab a foul on her screen. However, with the momentum, she fell down as Mitchell slightly pushed her away. None of the baits got her a foul, and Bueckers was seemingly frustrated.

The game continued, and she had to quickly get up to catch up with the rest of the players. While she stayed in the game, the dramatic nature of the fall instantly sparked a firestorm online. One fan even asked, “Why is Paige trying to foul bait here???😭😭😭” while sharing the video of the same.

The incident happened in the very next quarter after Bueckers was already in hot water after the Sophie Cunningham flagrant foul in the first quarter. Then, Cunningham’s feet were spread wide to cover the side of the guard, as also debated by the announcer and WNBA Hall of Famer Rebecca Lobo. However, it was still considered landing space when Bueckers fell that time to shoot three flagrant-1 foul free throws.

The incident just adds more fuel to a fire that is quickly becoming the league’s most intense rivalry. Between Clark’s sideline intervention and the fresh allegations swirling around Bueckers, this rivalry is only gaining more traction.

And while the on-court action provided plenty of headlines, the biggest story for Fever fans remains the one unfolding on the sidelines.

Caitlin Clark’s practice gear sparks hope amid injury silence

With the Fever front office offering no clear timeline for Caitlin Clark’s return, the fanbase has turned into a team of sideline detectives, desperate for any sign of progress. Before Tuesday’s game, they got the clue they’d been waiting for.

As Clark met with fans on the court, a local sports anchor posted a video of the interaction. It wasn’t what she was doing, but what she was wearing that sent a jolt of optimism through social media: full Indiana Fever practice gear. For a fanbase starved for good news, the sight of her in practice shorts was a revelation. The reaction was immediate. “Practice shorts👀👀,” one fan posted. For a moment, it felt like her return was just around the corner.

But just as the hope began to build, Coach Stephanie White offered a dose of cautious reality. While she confirmed Clark is making significant progress—moving into full-court running and building endurance—she was firm on the most important detail. “No return to practice,” White stated bluntly. “She has been able to do a little bit more on the court in terms of how she moves. But not into practice yet, no.”

It was a necessary clarification. The update highlights the delicate balance the Fever are trying to strike: celebrating progress while ensuring their franchise player is 100% healthy before she steps back on the floor. For now, fans will have to continue reading the tea leaves—or, in this case, the shorts.