On May 24, 2025, the Indiana Fever suffered a narrow 90-88 loss to the defending WNBA champions, the New York Liberty, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. While the game was a thrilling contest, it was the final seconds that ignited a firestorm of controversy. With 2.2 seconds remaining, Fever star Caitlin Clark received an inbound pass from Sophie Cunningham at half court. As Clark attempted to make a game-tying or game-winning move, the Liberty’s Natasha Cloud stripped the ball. Clark, visibly frustrated, flailed her arms and looked to the referees, expecting a foul call that never came. Breanna Stewart secured the ball for New York as time expired, sealing the Fever’s fate and dropping their record to 2-2 while the Liberty moved to 3-0.
Fever head coach Stephanie White didn’t hold back in her post-game comments, calling out what she perceives as a pattern of unfair officiating. “I thought she got fouled,” White said of the non-call on Clark. “I think it’s pretty egregious what’s been happening to us these last few games. A minus-31 free throw discrepancy—I might be able to understand that if we’re chucking 3s, but we’re not. We’re attacking the rim. The disrespect right now for our team has been pretty unbelievable.” White pointed to the game’s free throw disparity, with the Fever attempting just 15 compared to the Liberty’s 32. This wasn’t an isolated incident; in the Fever’s previous win over the Atlanta Dream on May 22, they had 15 attempts to the Dream’s 23.
The controversy surrounding Clark and officiating isn’t new. Just days earlier, on May 21, a Yahoo Sports article detailed a Fever-Dream matchup riddled with 17 fouls and multiple replay challenges, three of which overturned initial calls. Fans and analysts alike have increasingly criticized the WNBA’s officiating, particularly in games involving Clark, who has become a lightning rod for attention in her rookie season. A Fox News report from June 2024 highlighted similar sentiments, with fans arguing that referees missed a blatant foul on Clark during a layup attempt against the Washington Mystics, a pattern that seems to persist into 2025.
White’s frustration reflects a broader sentiment within the Fever organization and fanbase. “We’re not looking for a change. We’re just looking for consistency,” she emphasized, noting that the second half of their earlier game against the Dream had at least felt more balanced. Fever center Aliyah Boston echoed the need for resilience despite the officiating challenges. “When it comes to accepting the calls, we don’t really have a choice, because they’re going to call what they want to call,” Boston said. “We just have to finish through contact.”
However, the officiating debate surrounding Clark is only part of a larger, more complex narrative in the WNBA. A Forbes article from October 7, 2024, quoted retired Seattle Storm star Sue Bird, who addressed the racial undertones that have intensified in the league. Bird suggested that Clark, a white player in a predominantly Black league, has been used as a “pawn” by racists, diverting attention from the quality of play. This tension was further highlighted in a May 24, 2025, X post by Riley Gaines, who claimed that Brittney Griner called Clark “trash” and a “f***ing white girl” after fouling out in a game. The post sparked outrage, with users like MAGA Prophet pointing out perceived double standards in how racial remarks are addressed in the league.
The WNBA finds itself at a crossroads as it navigates Clark’s meteoric rise, which has brought unprecedented attention to the league—sellout crowds, record-breaking attendance, and a growing fanbase—while grappling with issues of officiating consistency and racial dynamics. For the Fever, the focus now shifts to their next game, but the echoes of White’s plea for fairness and respect will likely reverberate through the season, forcing the league to confront these challenges head-on.