Caitlin Clark says she's working with refs to avoid an eighth technical foul: 'I'm really proud of myself'

Caitlin Clark knows what’s at stake over the next four regular-season games. With Clark sitting on seven technical fouls, she needs just one more before she receives an automatic suspension from the league.

With so much on the line, Clark said she’s been warning/working with the refs to ensure she doesn’t get another technical with just a few games left before the playoffs.

Clark said she was “really proud of herself” for how much that strategy helped her stay available for the Fever and taught her how to communicate more effectively with the refs.

“I think it’s certainly been a conscious effort about it. I think it’s helped me play better basketball. Just, like, focus on what I need to focus on and let the last play go. You can’t go back in time and change things.

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“I feel like the refs might also know I have seven technical fouls. So, I always try to warn them, like, ‘I’m working with you, I’m working with you. Let’s have a conversation.’

“I think it’s made my conversations with them more positive and more conversational, both ways, for them and for me.”

“I think it’s certainly been a conscious effort about it. I think it’s helped me play better basketball. Just, like, focus on what I need to focus on and let the last play go. You can’t go back in time and change things.

“I feel like the refs might also know I have seven technical fouls. So, I always try to warn them, like, ‘I’m working with you, I’m working with you. Let’s have a conversation.’

“I think it’s made my conversations with them more positive and more conversational, both ways, for them and for me.”

Clark then explained that, while the Fever have four games left, she only needs to avoid getting a technical foul in three of those games. Since she won’t get kicked out of the team’s final game and the technical counter resets for the playoffs, she could get away with one more technical foul in the team’s final regular-season game.

She said that with a smile on her face, indicating that’s not necessarily her plan. Then, Clark said she was “really proud of” herself for the way being stuck at seven technical fouls has improved her game.

“I’m really proud of myself. But still three games to go. I think it’s helped me learn a lot about myself and the ways that I can impact my team. And, you know, how to communicate with the refs and things that are gonna help this team.

“Think it’s just allowed me to focus on the things that are important, and [I’m] gonna continue to try to do that.”

“I’m really proud of myself. But still three games to go. I think it’s helped me learn a lot about myself and the ways that I can impact my team. And, you know, how to communicate with the refs and things that are gonna help this team.

“Think it’s just allowed me to focus on the things that are important, and [I’m] gonna continue to try to do that.”

Clark, 24, is in the midst of her finest season in the WNBA. In her third year, Clark is posting the highest field-goal percentage of her career and is averaging a career-high 22.5 points per game.

Thanks to her efforts, the Fever are tied with the Atlanta Dream for the best record in the Eastern Conference and heading to the playoffs for the third-straight season.