WNBA Upgrades Mabrey Foul, Fines Cunningham After On-Court Altercation

The WNBA has reviewed and upgraded a technical foul assessed to Connecticut Sun's Marina Mabrey following Tuesday night's contentious game against the Indiana Fever. Mabrey's foul, initially called a technical, has been elevated to a Flagrant-2 penalty after she shoved Fever rookie Caitlin Clark to the court. This upgrade triggers an automatic fine for Mabrey.

Also facing financial penalty is Fever player Sophie Cunningham, who has been fined for her involvement in an on-court altercation that erupted late in the fourth quarter. The skirmish occurred after Cunningham fouled Jacy Sheldon, resulting in a Flagrant-2 call during the game. The Fever ultimately won the game 88-71.

The league has stated that no further disciplinary actions will be taken regarding on-court incidents from the game. The WNBA maintains a policy of not disclosing the specific monetary amounts of player fines.

Tensions had been brewing throughout the game, culminating in the late-game incident. Earlier in the third quarter, Sheldon made contact with Clark's eye while defending her. Clark responded by pushing Sheldon away, which then led to Mabrey's forceful shove of Clark. Clark and Tina Charles also received technical fouls in connection with the sequence.

Game official Ashley Gloss had initially determined that Mabrey's contact during the game did not warrant an ejection or qualify for a Flagrant-2.

Following the game, both the Fever and Sun expressed concerns regarding officiating quality, suggesting missed calls and ineffective game management contributed to the evening's escalating tensions. Fever coach Stephanie White voiced a broader concern about "bad officiating" league-wide. She argued that the officiating has not kept pace with the overall improvement of WNBA players. The Connecticut Sun's Olivia Nelson-Ododa echoed this sentiment, claiming that unmanaged calls contributed to the situation escalating.

Despite the controversies, Caitlin Clark chose to deflect questions regarding officiating. She steered reporters back to a focus on the basketball played.

The game's physicality has reignited discussions surrounding the WNBA's increasingly physical style of play. Some observers attribute the heightened scrutiny to the larger audiences now watching, drawn by star players like Clark. Others argue the WNBA has always been characterized by its physical nature.

With the victory, the Indiana Fever have earned a spot in the Commissioner's Cup final. They will face the Minnesota Lynx on July 1st in the championship game of the WNBA's in-season tournament.

Clark stated her excitement over playing in the final. She emphasized the financial incentive and opportunity to compete for a trophy. She added the final is an additional opportunity for the team to improve.