Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark didn’t play with DeWanna Bonner for long, but there’s clearly some bad blood between the former teammates. That bad blood came to a head Monday night, when an altercation between the two led to six technicals and an ejection during the Fever’s 86-77 win over the Phoenix Mercury.
The incident started with just under eight minutes left to play in the contest. While jockeying for position, Bonner and Clark got tied up. A whistle was blown and Bonner ripped herself away from Clark, who followed Bonner and appeared to exchange words with her former teammate.
Multiple players and officials got involved and things eventually reached a point where Clark was hit with a technical foul, her fifth of the season.
Clark was not happy about that call after the contest, calling it “ridiculous.”
“It’s ridiculous, I got a technical for clapping. We should all just go on the calendar now and pick a game I’m going to be suspended for if I’m going to get technicals for clapping.”
Clark wasn’t the only player punished for the altercation. Sophie Cunningham and Bonner each got technical fouls for confronting each other after the play. Alyssa Thomas and Myisha Hines-Allen were also given technicals after the two were seen yelling at each other face-to-face.
Play eventually resumed, but not for long. Hines-Allen was assessed another technical foul for shoving Thomas after the next play. Because it was her second technical of the contest, Hines-Allen was ejected.
While it’s unclear exactly what led to the initial altercation, it could have something to do with Bonner’s short stay with the Fever in 2025. Bonner lasted just nine games with the team that season — Clark’s rookie year — due to playing time issues. Bonner started just three games with the Fever and later said “the fit did not work out” regarding her brief time with the team.
Bonner was eventually waived and decided to sign with the Mercury.
As for Clark, the third-year sharpshooter is now hurtling rapidly toward a mandatory suspension. Under WNBA rules, a player must miss a game if they receive an eighth technical foul in a season. Clark has only played in 16 games this season and already has five technicals.
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