Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) takes a moment after she falls during the second half of a game against the Seattle Storm on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Fever defeated the Storm 92-75.

 

Indiana Fever rookie phenom Caitlin Clark has had her fair share of bumps and bruises throughout her first WNBA campaign, and she was roughed up a bit Wednesday night against the Connecticut Sun.

In the third quarter, Clark was trying to chase a Sun player when Connecticut center Alyssa Thomas laid her out with a pick on the perimeter.

Clark hit the court hard after making contact with Thomas’ right shoulder.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) goes up for a shot against Connecticut Sun guard DiJonai Carrington (21) Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, during a game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. (USA Today)

The whistle was quickly blown for an offensive foul on Thomas, but that’s all it was, a common foul.

Clark has been the victim of flagrant fouls this season, both of which came against the Chicago Sky.

The first was a check from Chennedy Carter, which made headlines in early June. Carter knocked Clark to the floor, and though it was initially called a common foul, the WNBA upgraded it to a flagrant foul.

Carter defended it after the game, calling it a “basketball play.”

Then Carter’s teammate, Angel Reese, another rookie star, hit Clark in the head on a block attempt in a different matchup with the Fever this season. Clark, again, hit the deck with force, and Reese was called for a flagrant foul after a review.

Seattle Storm v Indiana Fever

Connecticut Sun guard DiJonai Carrington (21) guards Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. (IMAGN)

Like Carter, Reese said she was just making a basketball play.

Clark broke the WNBA rookie single-season record for 3-pointers in the first quarter Wednesday, hitting a stepback 26-footer over DiJonai Carrington for her first basket of the game.

While Clark has been busting through WNBA rookie records this season, the Fever collected a tough win over the Sun, 84-80.

Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever during a game against the Connecticut Sun Aug. 28, 2024, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.  (Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)