Tempers Flare Between Caitlin Clark and DeWanna Bonner In Fever’s Statement Win

Caitlin Clark and DeWanna Bonner have history, having clashed multiple times despite being teammates for a short while.

Tempers Flare Between Caitlin Clark and DeWanna Bonner In Fever’s Statement Win

DeWanna Bonner and Caitlin Clark went at each other (Image via FirstSportz)

After two straight losses to arch-rival Angel Reese and her Atlanta Dream, there was no doubt that Caitlin Clark and her Indiana Fever would be motivated to defeat whoever comes their way next.

The franchise started this season with an average of four wins and losses. That probed many to ask questions about the chemistry between the players, and the schemes they were running.

That changed this month when they posted a 5-1 record. By now, fans were starting to believe that the team had put those question marks behind them and would get better.

Lo and behold, that narrative flipped when Reese and her teammates exposed what the Fever lack. Sometimes those losses can be frustrating. Other times, they can provide the right spark for a team to be better.

It seems it was a combination of the two when the Phoenix Mercury came into Gainbridge Fieldhouse. It was the away team who essentially hit the Fever in their chin when they raced to a 19-6 first-quarter lead. But after that, the home side started to chip away, with Caitlin Clark leading the charge.

By the time it was the fourth quarter, the Fever had built a significant lead. Maybe frustrations from that turnaround are why DeWanna Bonner reacted in the way she did.

The veteran flung her arms when the Fever point guard tried to stop her from getting to the paint. After that, Clark tried to talk trash to Bonner before the latter turned around and reciprocated towards her former teammate. Eventually, the two-time All-Star was slapped with a technical foul.

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Caitlin Clark lashes out at officials after needless technical foul

In the NBA, a player gets suspended when they commit 16 technical fouls throughout the season. But that is for 82 games. Since the WNBA has nearly half, the number of techs needed for a suspension is half. After this game, Caitlin Clark is at five.

I got a technical for clapping… We should all just go on the calendar now and pick a game that I’m gonna be suspended for if I’m gonna get technicals for clapping… You just don’t like competitive basketball, and that’s just facts, that’s just the reality.

Caitlin Clark said

The Iowa native essentially clapped back at the official for handing her a technical foul for clapping. Clark made it clear that clapping and instigating by Fever fans should not result in a tech.

If that were so, it is clear to Caitlin Clark that the official in question or the league does not appreciate competitive basketball. For sure, this will lead to some fines for her. But at this early stage of the season, the 24-year-old is clearly not happy to have that many techs.

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Caitlin Clark and the Fever could pile on the misery for the Mercury

Before this game, the Phoenix Mercury had just beaten the Seattle Storm. That win broke a four-game losing streak, which has essentially been the story of their season.

Caitlin Clark hypes up the fans
Caitlin Clark hypes up the fans (Image via Fever/X)

Last year’s WNBA Finalists are near the bottom of the league’s standings, and this loss to the Fever will only add to their problems. The problem is that they will face the Fever again, and in front of their hostile crowd.

DeWanna Bonner gets a special reaction from them, considering they still blame her for quitting on the team last year. Now add this scuffle, and there is a chance the boos will rain heavily come Wednesday.

On the other hand, it will be a good chance for Caitlin Clark and her teammates to continue this winning streak. This game showed that they are improving in their on-court chemistry. Maybe these altercations will push them to be better as a unit.

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