This season, Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark have received technical fouls for clapping, refereeing decisions that have been hotly discussed by players, WNBA insiders, and analysts. Bueckers got hers in May, while Clark was called for one on Monday.
On Wednesday, the Dallas Wings point guard finally broke her silence on that issue after the Indiana Fever superstar recently called out the referees.
Paige Bueckers Shares Firm Take on Technical Fouls She and Caitlin Clark Received for Clapping
In the third quarter against the Atlanta Dream on May 22, Bueckers was hacked hard by Indya Nivar. The All-Star guard walked away from the play, eagerly clapping at the call.
A referee promptly whistled the Wings star for a technical foul, forcing a look of disbelief from her.
On Monday, Clark was entangled in the fourth quarter against former teammate and Phoenix Mercury forward DeWanna Bonner. The Fever sharpshooter was called for a foul before clapping at the direction of the Mercury players. Clark was assessed a technical foul for her action.
Bueckers responded when asked to comment on the technical fouls she and Clark received for clapping.
“We’re just competitors. We wanna win. We show passion. We show fight. … What I’ve learned is clapping is non-negotiable, so I’mma stay away from clapping, no promises, but I don’t want to keep losing money.”
“I’mma try to stay away from clapping, no promises, but I don’t want to keep losing money.” 😅
—Paige Bueckers on adjusting to officiating changes this season. pic.twitter.com/ryy3w0uI7O
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 24, 2026
The Wings asked the WNBA to rescind the technical foul on Bueckers, a plea that came out in the team’s favor.
Indiana went the same route for Clark, but the league upheld the referees’ decision after review.
Clark shared how she got her technical foul in a report by The Athletic’s James Boyd on Wednesday.
“I went to Gerda, and I said, ‘Why’d you give me a technical foul?’ She said because I was ‘clapping and instigating.’”
Clark did not hold back in the postgame conference when asked about the technical foul.
“It’s ridiculous. I got a technical for clapping. We should all just go on the calendar now and pick a game that I’m going to be suspended for if I’m going to get technicals for clapping.”
“I don’t understand it at all. … I’m going to play with emotion. I’m going to play with passion. And if they’re going to give me a technical foul for clapping, then so be it. That’s their choice.”
The clapping from Indiana’s franchise cornerstone led to an altercation that involved her, Bonner, Alyssa Thomas, Sophie Cunningham, and Myisha Hines-Allen, who were also called for technical fouls.
In the following play, Hines-Allen received another technical foul for pushing Thomas, leading to her ejection.
Clark now has 5 technical fouls, 3 short of an automatic 1-game suspension, while Bueckers has none.
Clark and Bueckers are two of the most vocal and expressive leaders in the WNBA. Although they have been in trouble before for showing emotions, both have vowed to keep playing with the same passion.
