Caitlin Clark’s fifth technical foul was called during the Indiana Fever’s June 22, 2026 game against the Phoenix Mercury, and reports say it came after a heated exchange with DeWanna Bonner and was assessed for clapping and instigating the situation.

What happened

Clark and Bonner got tangled up late in the game, emotions flared, and officials issued multiple technicals in the aftermath. Clark later said the ref told her the tech was for “clapping,” and she called the call “ridiculous.”

Why it matters

That fifth tech put her closer to the WNBA suspension threshold, which starts at eight technical fouls in a season.

Bottom line

So, in plain terms: it was not for a fight or an ejection, but for her reaction during the altercation — specifically clapping/instigating after the whistle.