A chippy, competitive game between the Indiana Fever and Connecticut Sun quickly escalated into something more in the Commissioner's Cup on Tuesday night.
What started as competitive trash talk between Fever star Caitlin Clark and Sun guard Jacy Sheldon turned into a scuffle in the third quarter, when three technical fouls and one flagrant foul were assessed after both Sheldon and Sun teammate Marina Mabrey made contact with Clark.
To the chagrin of the NBA TV broadcast and the fans at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Mabrey was not ejected from the game, but instead received a technical foul. The Fever and Sun then brawled late in the fourth quarter after a hard foul from Fever guard Sophie Cunningham on Sheldon.
Here's the hard foul, which earned Cunningham a flagrant 2 and an ejection, as well as ejections for Sheldon and Sun guard Lindsay Allen.
The Fever and Sun got into it again.
— The Athletic WBB (@TheAthleticWBB) June 18, 2025
Sophie Cunningham took exception to Jacy Sheldon's foul on Caitlin Clark, leading to shoving and another altercation.
Cunningham, Sheldon and Lindsay Allen were ejected from the game.
🎥 @NBATV | H/T @nosyone4pic.twitter.com/aXUS8kBzpl https://t.co/EOjIsf6J77
NBA TV color commentator Debbie Antonelli proceeded to rip the officials on the broadcast shortly after the brawl, believing the crew to be culpable for the fracas.
"I’m blaming this all on the officials tonight," Antonelli said on the broadcast. "It is totally their responsibility. It’s a hard foul. It’s a flagrant foul. And if they had taken care of business earlier we wouldn’t be in this situation right now. You can’t eject her, because you didn’t eject Mabrey. I’m exhausted with this game and the officiating. Players want consistency. Thankfully nobody got hurt."
And Antonelli wasn't the only one upset with the officiating crew.
Fans took to X and ripped the officials, specifically for their decision to allow Mabrey to remain in the game.
The WNBA continues to fail to meet the moment. Terrible decision to allow Marina Mabrey to stay in the game. People are watching as never before. And this is what they see?
— Christine Brennan (@cbrennansports) June 18, 2025
Marina Mabrey being allowed to stay in the game further proves how big of a joke WNBA officials are.
— David Eickholt (@DavidEickholt) June 18, 2025
A player is holding their eye and gets thrown to the floor from the back.
What the hell is going on...
— Mick (@DBGyt_) June 18, 2025
The WNBA is an embarrassment and none of these refs should EVER be allowed to ref again...
Player safety should be the MINIMUM thing required for the job...
Marina mabrey clearly shoving caitlin clark to the ground after a DEAD BALL and not getting ejected from the game is absolutely unbelievable. That was so clearly not a basketball play at all. Seriously do better refs… pic.twitter.com/vClvZK361C
— #22caitlinthegoat (@ccthegoat22) June 18, 2025
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as WNBA Officials Ripped by Fans, Announcers After Fever-Sun Brawl Leads to Ejections.
