Caitlin Clark scored 24 points to lead Indiana as DeWanna Bonner collided with the Fever stars in a wild fourth quarter
The Indiana Fever beat the Phoenix Mercury 86-77 on Monday night, but the highlights the majority it was bad blood between the two groups. Lost in the middle of the chaos was another stellar performance from Caitlin Clark, who finished with 24 points and nine assists to help Indiana secure the win.
With seven minutes left in the fourth quarter, Clark and Mercury forward DeWanna Bonner was blocked by a tackle.
The bad blood boiled instantly.
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Caitlin Clark fires up the home crowd as the Fever battle the Mercury in Indianapolis. (Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) (Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Clark stood up, the two exchanged names, and the officials slapped Clark with his fifth foul of the season.
Clark and Bonner get into it during the 2024 showdown, including shoves and swipes.
MERCURY STAR RIPS FANS FANS BY BOOING DEWANNA BONNER, WHO LEAVES TEAM AFTER 9 GAMES
Add the short and rambunctious Bonner as Clark's counterpart in Indiana before he was forced out of town, and the dynamic was not surprising.
“Enforcer” Fever guard Sophie Cunningham didn't sit back and watch her star get pushed around.
Before the Clark-Bonner incident, Cunningham entered the scene of the altercation and pointed directly at Bonner, who continued to bark at officers as his colleagues tried to remove him.
Cameras later caught Cunningham laughing as Bonner continued to faint, and both players were hit with technical fouls.
Sophie Cunningham prepares for battle, warming up before Fever takes on Mercury. (Photo by AJ Mast/NBAE via Getty Images) ((Photo by AJ Mast/NBAE via Getty Images))
The Mercury star and Bonner's girlfriend Alyssa Thomas rushed to Bonner's defense. Indiana forward Misha Hines-Allen jumped into the scrum.
Examiners began giving out technical fouls as free samples, hitting Thomas and Hines-Allen with two technicals.
After a few seconds, Hines-Allen decided he was done talking and shoved Bonner away. Because he had already been assessed a technical foul earlier, the shuffle counted as his second of the night, earning him an automatic disqualification.
One of Caitlin Clark's biggest enemies happened to be a former partner. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images) ((Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images))
CAITLIN CLARK IS POINTED IN THE EYES, DREAMED TO BE FULL OF MIXING WITH THE PLAYERS OF THE SUN
All the whistles, reviews and exits turned the final time into a perfect marathon. The fourth quarter alone lasted 44 minutes.
When asked about the end of the chippy, Clark ended up focusing on the manager and the stop and start speed of the game.
“Obviously I appreciate the nurses who just hit the fouls,” Clark said.
She also joked that this game might be the fourth longest quarter in WNBA history.
Despite the turmoil that threatened to derail Indiana's momentum, Clark made sure the Fever stayed focused on the only thing that mattered.
Just stay focused on the goals,” added Clark. “That's winning the game.”
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WNBA rivals and personalities … Monday night's contest brought plenty of both.
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