Caitlin Clark’s sophomore season, driven by three muscle injuries so far, has made it difficult for the Indiana Fever standout to play. But she still managed to suit up for one game in July against the No. 1 overall pick by the Dallas Wings in the 2025 draft. And, as usual, what a game it was! Now, she wasn’t present in the third one and watched helplessly from the sidelines as a bad call cost her team the game.

It all came down to a gut-wrenching finish for the Indiana Fever in their nail-biting 81–80 loss to the Dallas Wings. With just seconds on the clock and Indiana trailing by one, Kelsey Mitchell drove hard for the potential game-winner. She rose for the shot…and missed. Caitlin Clark appeared visibly unhappy with both the game’s conclusion and the officiating. As players walked onto the court after the final buzzer, she could be seen clapping pointedly in the direction of referee Amy Bonner. The WNBA’s official YouTube highlights show this in the closing seconds, while Getty photographs captured more of the tense exchange. As Bonner attempted to walk away, Clark’s actions drew her attention, prompting the official to turn and gesture toward the Fever bench.

Well, CC’s passion is no secret. Even on the sidelines, despite being sidelined with her third injury of the season, limiting her to just 13 games, she’s as expressive as ever. Earlier this year, against the LA Sparks, Kelsey Plum even spotted Clark getting a little too fired up, jokingly pointing out her brief step onto the court to an official while half-jokingly urging a tech. No call was made, but the playful jab was clear.

This game, though, wasn’t one of those lighthearted moments, as from the jump, there were multiple instances where Indiana Fever sensation had to keep her emotions in check. At first, it was at the 7:23 mark in the first quarter when PB was torching Sophie. As Bueckers rose for a three, Cunningham made contact from behind, sending her to the floor, and it was a flagrant 1 foul. Though a review was called, but result was three free throws for PB, which she calmly knocked down as Clark’s expression said it all.

Midway through the second quarter, the Wings were swinging the ball around when Steph White suddenly charged down the Fever sideline, clearly intent on giving the baseline referee a piece of her mind. Already standing nearby, Caitlin Clark, seemingly chatting with that very same official, instinctively reached out to hold White back, quite possibly keeping her coach from making an unscheduled appearance on the technical foul sheet. And another would have also cost White $400, so for once, Clark’s assigned seat on the bench was the perfect vantage point. But the tension didn’t stop there.

By the close of the third quarter, Dallas was in control, leading 67-55. And Boston, already saddled with three fouls by then, appeared increasingly frustrated with the officiating. Then, during a break in play, cameras showed Clark approaching as Boston exchanged words with a referee near the free-throw line. Clark stepped in, taking her teammate’s arm in an effort to steer her away from the dispute. A Fever staffer then guided Boston to the bench, with Clark heading there soon after.

This time, the “Caitlin Clark De-Escalation Committee” wasn’t on standby; Clark was the one doing the calming. But even the best peacekeepers have their limits, and it was only a matter of time before she reached hers.

Caitlin Clark’s passion is on pause as Fever’s playoff hopes teeter on the brink!

The 23-year-old Iowa native has always been passionate, fiercely competitive, and unafraid to voice her concerns when it comes to foul calls. Who could forget Iowa’s March Madness first-round clash against Holy Cross on March 23, 2024? Caitlin Clark was in the middle of confronting officials over a foul call when the camera suddenly cut to her dad, Brent, sitting courtside, shouting “Stop!”—urging her to halt the complaints and lock back into the game.

That passion hasn’t gone anywhere. The difference now is that, sidelined by injury for the third time, Clark’s battles with the refs are mostly on behalf of her teammates. That was the case tonight. But now, the stakes were much higher—because every single foul matters as just a handful of games left in the regular season, and while the Fever are still in a favorable spot, that can change in a heartbeat.

Well, the urgency has only grown since Indiana lost both Aari and Sydney to season-ending injuries on August 7, right after the trade deadline closed. Yes, the team brought in Odyssey Sims on a seven-day hardship contract. But she’s still trying to find her footing, and tonight’s game was proof as she had just two assists and 0 points in 13 minutes of play. And even if she does click with the team, she can’t suit up in the playoffs unless she’s signed to a permanent contract. Translation? The Fever needs Clark back—fast.

But here’s the problem: while her initial return timeline has already passed, Clark still isn’t ready to hit the floor. As head coach Stephanie White explained, “No return to practice — she’s been able to get a little bit more of her full-court running with all of her body weight… It’s really building up from doing minimal to building some endurance to do longer periods of time. She’s been able to do a little more on the court in terms of how she moves, but not into practice shape.”