INDIANAPOLIS — Caitlin Clark said the WNBA made the “right decision” after rescinding an eighth technical foul that would have resulted in the Fever superstar being suspended for Tuesday’s game against the Liberty.
Clark was assessed a tech in Saturday’s 90-86 win against the Sky after she made contact with an official standing out of bounds following a drive along the baseline.
The league reviewed and rescinded the call less than two hours after the game ended.
Clark said she talked with the crew chief afterward and “felt good” coming out of the game that the technical foul wouldn’t stand.
“It was quickly communicated that obviously that … what the ref interpreted was not actually the case of what happened,” Clark said. “So I’m just happy they got it right, and excited to be able to play tonight.”
Clark, who is coming off a 26-point, 11-assist night against the Sky, said the process of promptly reviewing calls is an area the league can continue to grow.
“Obviously, it takes more resources and more people and more eyeballs and more video angles and whatever it is,” Clark said. “It’s a great step forward next year when we have the replay center. I think that’s going to help with a lot of stuff. So I think it’s one step at a time and the faster that they can make those decisions, probably the better just for everybody involved.
“I’m sure there were some people that had spent money to come tonight and watch me play that were probably feeling a little tense after watching that on TV, so I’m glad they made the decision fast and I’m sure we can continue to improve in that way. I think we will.”
Breanna Stewart said her focus is staying present with the Liberty as they have seven games left before the World Cup break. Then, she’ll shift her attention to Team USA.
“[I’m] wanting to take this one game, one day at a time,” she said, “and really be in the present. And I’ll be ready when we get there.”
She doesn’t plan to incorporate more rest and recovery days than normal, but she is taking advantage of the downtime.
“I think just being smart with the rest days,” she said. “Maybe not going to the Bronx Zoo anymore or things like that, but I don’t know. At the same time, I just want to still be me and live my life a little bit.”
Like celebrating her daughter’s 5th birthday this week, though Stewart didn’t partake in the rock-climbing portion, which she said was “probably for the best.”
Betnijah Laney-Hamilton may no longer be a member of the Liberty, but her teammates are still rooting for her.
Stewart said she’s “really happy for B,” who’s now a member of the Washington Mystics after they were awarded the 10-year veteran off waivers.
“Sometimes you just need a clean slate, fresh start,” Stewart said. “She’s been through so much in her career, not even only in New York but just in general, that you want her to really be happy and seems like that’s the case and excited for her to hopefully get out there tonight with the Mystics.”
At 32, Laney-Hamilton is the oldest member of the Mystics, who have only one other player born before 2000.
Stewart believes her former teammate will bring vital leadership to a team on the rise.
“B brings them something that they don’t have,” Stewart said. “I think just the leadership, communication from the locker room and on-thecourt standpoint is going to help them tremendously because she has that experience.”
