Caitlin Clark and DeWanna Bonner clash after controversial WNBA Playoffs call

Caitlin Clark and DeWanna Bonner exchanged words and shoves in a heated confrontation just minutes into Game 2 of the Round 1 faceoff between the Indiana Fever and Connecticut Sun

Tensions nearly boiled over in the opening minutes of Wednesday’s heated faceoff between the Indiana Fever and Connecticut Sun.

Just over three minutes into the first quarter, Fever star rookie Caitlin Clark pulled up from near half-court and uncorked a deep 3-point attempt while being guarded by Sun guard DeWanna Bonner.

Though the shot was off, Clark appeared to think that she was fouled on the come down. Upon landing, she lost her footing after running into Bonner, who collided with the 22-year-old after attempting to block the attempt.

Immediately following the play, Clark rushed over to a referee on the other side of the court and pleaded her case for why a foul should’ve been called. Bonner did not take kindly to the gesture, promptly getting in her face and exchanging words.

In response, Clark appeared to forcefully push Bonner away from her and sternly say something in response. The 37-year-old subsequently swiped her arm away while continuing to speak her mind – making for an incredibly tense moment between the pair.

Taking to social media, droves of fans sympathized with Clark and her displeasure with the WNBA officials. “Was that not called a foul? Thats literally impeding the landing zone, she has to yield that space,” one X user wrote, with another adding: “That’s a foul. You have to let the shooter land – knocking them down is a flagrant 1.”

Despite the impassioned moment between Clark and Bonner, it seems as though there’s nothing but respect between the two. Prior to tipoff, the latter said of the former: “She’s such a great player, she’s not your typical rookie but in order to win the championship you gotta guard the best player so I’m up for the challenge.”

Clark, meanwhile, placed little importance on the brief scuffle while speaking with ESPN’s Holly Rowe after the first quarter ended, asserting that her main goal was to “stay focused about what’s on the floor and my four other teammates that are right there with me.

“I think that’s most important and I thought we got a good start but can’t let them back in after we get a little lead,” she added.

It’s understandable that tensions would be at an all time high during a pivotal Game 2. The Sun made quick work of the Fever in the opening game of Round 1, comfortably defeating Indiana 93-69.

With the Fever staring down elimination in Wednesday’s win-or-go-home contest, guard Kelsey Mitchell asserted that she and Clark were “locked in” heading into the contest. “The good thing is that you can look at Wednesday and say, hey, see how much you can learn and take… so I’m proud of that improvement. I’m proud of that growth,” Mitchell added.

“I think that me and C-square [Caitlin Clark] will always be locked in on what we can bring to the table as a group.”