Caitlin Clark has fan kicked out at WNBA Playoff game after altercation
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark had a slight altercation with the crowd during Wednesday's playoff matchup against the Connecticut Sun resulting in security removing a fan
A fan was temporarily removed from his seat during Wednesday’s playoff clash between the Indiana Fever and the Connecticut Sun at the Mohegan Sun Arena.
Late in the first quarter with the Fever leading 14-13, star rookie Caitlin Clark approached two on-court referees and pointed at a fan in the second row to be escorted out.
An arena security worker immediately retrieved the fan and had him removed from his seat within a minute of Clark’s request.
Sun star DeWanna Bonner appeared to have words from Clark shortly after the incident before teammates swiftly held back the Connecticut player. Clark then retreated into a huddle with fellow Indiana players Lexie Hull and NaLyssa Smith.
The entire commotion happened as the Fever was challenging a foul call. Indiana won the decision and the foul was appropriately reassigned to Lexie Hull.
The Indiana Star reported that by the time the play was over, the fan was allowed to return to his seat. Clark was interviewed by ESPN after the first quarter and was subsequently asked about the incident. “Just stay focused on what’s on the floor and for the other teammates that are right here with me,” Clark candidly stated.
Here’s the full video of Caitlin Clark and the fan getting kicked out of the Sun vs Fever game https://t.co/iGh4R6xuSv pic.twitter.com/j2O5XmmzXv
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) September 25, 2024
Clark and the Fever must win to keep their season alive, having dropped the first game of the best-of-three series to Sun 93-69. The star rookie struggled in Game One, connecting on just four of 17 shots for 11 points.
She started much better against the Sun on Wednesday, tallying 14 of the Fever’s 34 first-half points to leave Indiana within striking distance of the third-seeded Sun.
Clark is not the only high-profile basketball player to have a run-in with a fan sitting courtside. Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James had a fan in Atlanta ejected in 2021 as he dragged an official over and dramatically pointed a fan out in the first row.
James was arguing with a pair of Hawks fans courtside when one of them stood up and could be heard shouting “Shut the **** up, don’t talk to my husband like that.”
Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder were visiting the Philadelphia 76ers in 2016 when a fan in the first row flipped him two middle fingers.
Westbrook calmly pointed at the fan and looked at the officials befuddled as other members of the Thunder ran over to his defense.
