Caitlin Clark foul shocks announcers — and it…
Caitlin Clark was at the middle of more foul drama on Sunday, and this one left ESPN’s broadcasters surprised.
As the Fever led the Dream by 5 in Atlanta, Clark was called for a capturing foul on Rhyne Howard with 10.4 seconds left in extra time after evenly touching Howard’s back during a 3-point attempt.
Clark, 24, immediately gestured toward the Fever bench for a problem, and head coach Stephanie White obliged, but the call was upheld after review.
With the sport on the road, referees called this a foul on Caitlin Clark, and the call held up after review. The announcers did not even assume so, as Clark was furious after the unsuccessful problem. pic.twitter.com/9gAI29NY3W— Jackson Thompson (@JackThompsonFOX) August 16, 2026
Howard hit all three of her free throws to cut the Dream’s deficit to two, but Clark adopted up with two made free throws of her own, and Indiana held on for a 95-91 win.
“Oh, I don’t see anything there,” play-by-player Ryan Ruocco said as the printed confirmed replays of the foul as the refs reviewed it. “There’s a little bit of contact…”
“It’s less than contact, it’s a touch,” analyst and Hall of Famer Rebecca Lobo responded. “And you don’t call that all game long, I would be surprised if they don’t overturn it here.”
Caitlin Clark (22) evenly touches Rhyne Howard (10) as Howard begins a 3-point attempt late in extra time on Aug. 16, 2026. ESPN
Caitlin Clark (22) is called for a foul for contact with Rhyne Howard (10) with 10.4 seconds left in extra time on Aug. 16, 2026. ESPN
Ruocco then said he’d also be stunned if the call wasn’t overturned.
“It does not impact at all the balance with which Howard takes the shot,” Lobo continued. “She’s just kind of on a fade a little bit. It’s almost like fingertips on a keyboard. I would be stunned if they do not overturn that call.”
After the call was surprisingly upheld, Ruocco merely said, “wow.”
“I’m surprised,” Lobo added.
Clark, who was caught smiling after Angel Reese missed a potential game-winning layup at the end of regulation, held her arms out in disbelief.
Caitlin Clark reacts in disbelief after being called for a foul in extra time on Aug. 16, 2026. ESPN
The three-time All-Star led the Fever on Sunday with 26 factors on 9-for-20 capturing with 9 assists.
Eight days earlier, Clark was called for a technical foul when her momentum induced her to bump into a referee along the baseline.
That was her eighth technical of the season, which triggers an computerized one-game suspension. But the WNBA rescinded the tech the same day, placing Clark back at seven for the 12 months.
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