Caitlin Clark got into it for a brief moment with one of the heroes of the United States’ gold medal win in Paris.
The Fever star delivered a hard but seemingly normal foul on Mercury guard Kahleah Copper during the second quarter of the team’s first game back from the Olympic break at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday night.
Clark, while hustling back to stop a fast break basket, came down hard across Copper’s arm to prevent the star guard from getting an easy layup or a potential and-1 — as Copper was unable to get a shot off.
Copper, who had 12 points and took over in the fourth quarter of Team USA’s win over France in the gold medal game, appeared to take issue with the play and had to be held back by one of her teammates as she jawed at Clark.
Clark, who received plenty of hard fouls during the first half of the season, didn’t seem to understand what the fuss was about.
“It’s just a foul,” Clark appeared to say back.
The No. 1 overall pick, who was controversially left off Team USA, did her talking with her play as she had 29 points and 10 assists in the Fever’s 98-89 win.
Copper led all scorers with 32 points and eight rebounds for a Mercury team that also featured gold medalists Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner.
“You knew they were going to come in here with a lot of confidence, with three people that have won gold medals,” Clark said. “You know their confidence is really high and I thought we came out and really set the tone.”
There also was another heated moment in the game when the Fever’s Kelsey Mitchell and the Mercury’s Natasha Cloud got into it after a tough screen by NaLyssa Smith.
Copper #2 of the Phoenix Mercury during the second half at
Gainbridge Fieldhouse on August 16, 2024. Getty Images
Mitchell pushed Cloud, and shoving continued as their teammates stepped in to break it up.
Clark is coming off what seemed like a pretty relaxing break from basketball that included some fun in the sun on a boat with her Fever teammates and even getting to hang out with Aaron Judge at a Yankees game along with boyfriend Connor McCaffery.