ESPN reacts to Clark’s late-game foul call
The Indiana Fever’s overtime win over the Atlanta Dream featured a tense late-game sequence. A foul involving Caitlin Clark with seconds remaining brought an immediate reaction from ESPN’s broadcast team.
The officials upheld the call after review, giving Atlanta three free throws. Clark then responded at the line as Indiana closed out a 95-91 victory.
Clark leads Indiana’s offense
Caitlin Clark scored 26 points and finished with 9 assists in the Fever’s victory. She shot 9-for-20 from the field and 5-for-6 at the free-throw line while playing 41 minutes.
Clark also recorded 5 turnovers, while Kelsey Mitchell scored 20 points for Indiana. Mitchell’s total marked her 19th consecutive game with at least 20 points.
The game stayed close late
Atlanta led Indiana 81-80 late in regulation before Kelsey Mitchell made a three-pointer with 1:05 remaining. That basket tied the score at 81 and set up a final possession for the Dream.
Atlanta had three chances to score before regulation ended, but none produced a basket. Angel Reese and Naz Hillmon both missed layups during the final sequence, sending the game into overtime.
Timpson changes the overtime game
Makayla Timpson scored a career-high 20 points and made Indiana’s first three field goals of overtime. Her scoring helped the Fever build separation after the teams entered the extra period tied at 81.
Timpson also finished with seven rebounds in the game. Indiana scored 14 points in overtime, while Atlanta scored 10, allowing the Fever to complete the four-point victory.
Clark is called for a late foul
With 10.4 seconds remaining in overtime, Clark was called for a shooting foul against Atlanta guard Rhyne Howard. The call came while Howard was attempting a three-point shot and left Atlanta with three free throws.
Howard made all three attempts, cutting Indiana’s lead to 93-91. The foul became a major broadcast moment because ESPN commentators Ryan Ruocco and Rebecca Lobo immediately discussed the decision.
ESPN commentators react to the call
During the ESPN broadcast, Ryan Ruocco and Rebecca Lobo expressed surprise after the foul was called on Clark. Both commentators indicated that they expected the officials to overturn the decision after reviewing the play.
The officials kept the foul call after review, according to reports on the game. Howard then completed the three free throws, bringing Atlanta within two points with 10.4 seconds remaining.
Clark answers at the line
After Howard’s three free throws, Clark went to the free-throw line with Indiana still leading 93-91. She made both attempts, increasing the Fever’s advantage to 95-91.
Those free throws were Clark’s final points of the game and gave Indiana a four-point lead. The Dream could not score again, and the Fever finished the overtime period with the victory.
Gray delivers a big performance for Atlanta
Allisha Gray led Atlanta with 32 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists in the overtime loss to Indiana. She made 11 of 24 field-goal attempts and helped keep the Dream competitive throughout the game.
Atlanta shot 35.4% from the field, while Indiana shot 44% during the 95-91 overtime matchup.
Interesting fact: ESPN2 reached 70 million U.S. households in just 80 months after launching in 1993.
Reese records another double-double
Angel Reese finished with 15 points and 14 rebounds for Atlanta in the overtime loss. She also recorded 6 assists and 4 turnovers while playing 38 minutes.
Reese’s 14 rebounds included 9 defensive rebounds and 5 offensive rebounds. Her late regulation rebound created another chance for Atlanta, but the Dream could not convert its final opportunities before overtime.
Interesting fact: ESPN was originally called the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network.
Indiana protects fourth place
The Fever entered the game holding fourth place in the WNBA standings and protected that position with the overtime win. Indiana improved to 23-12, while Atlanta fell to 21-13 after the loss.
The top four teams earn home-court advantage in the opening playoff round. Indiana’s win also extended its winning streak to 4 games entering the final stretch of the regular season.
The foul follows recent officiating attention
The overtime foul came after the WNBA rescinded an eighth technical foul assessed to Clark during Indiana’s August 8 win over Chicago. The reversal meant Clark avoided the automatic one-game suspension tied to an eighth technical foul.
That earlier decision had placed Clark’s officiating in the news before Atlanta. The latest foul therefore became another widely reported officiating moment involving the Fever guard.
The Fever remain in playoff position
Indiana’s victory gave the Fever a 23-12 record and maintained their position among the WNBA’s top four teams. Atlanta’s record moved to 21-13, leaving the Dream 1.5 games behind Indiana in the standings.
The result also affected playoff positioning as the regular season nears its final games. Indiana will continue playing for a top-four finish and home-court advantage in the opening playoff round.
The internet is also talking about Angel Reese giving brutally blunt review of her own performance.
The late call does not change the result
The foul on Clark gave Atlanta three free throws and reduced Indiana’s lead to two points with 10.4 seconds remaining. Clark then made two free throws of her own, and the Fever held on for a 95-91 overtime victory.
Clark finished with 26 points and nine assists, while Timpson added 20 points. The result gave Indiana its fourth straight win and kept Indiana in fourth place.
In other news, Caitlin Clark trails several WNBA stars in salary rankings.
What did you think of the late foul call on Caitlin Clark? Like this slideshow and comment with your take on the play and ESPN’s reaction.
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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