Caitlin Clark Bracing for WNBA Punishment After Postgame Decision

The Indiana Fever entered Thursday night's matchup against the Golden State Valkyries riding a three-game winning streak but ultimately fell 90-88 for their third loss of the season.

Fever superstar Caitlin Clark finished with a season-low 16 points on just 3-for-12 shooting from the field while adding six assists, four rebounds, and three steals.

Clark was clearly frustrated with her performance and ultimately declined to speak to the media following the game, despite players being contractually obligated to do so under the WNBA's Media Access Policy.

"No later than 10 minutes following the game, each head coach and two players (leading scorer and key contributor) per team will be available in the separate press conference rooms for in-person and zoom media," the WNBA policy states.

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Skipping mandatory media availability often results in a fine, and penalties could potentially be steeper this season under the league's updated collective bargaining agreement.

In 2024, Angel Reese was fined $1,000 for refusing to speak to the media after a game against the Fever, while the new CBA reportedly allows fines of up to $10,000 for compliance-related violations.

While nothing has officially been determined regarding whether Clark will be fined, the Fever organization recently received a warning over how it handled Clark's injury status last week, which could potentially put the two-time All-Star in position to become an example for the league if officials determine discipline is necessary.

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This story was originally published May 29, 2026 at 8:48 AM.