Frustrated Caitlin Clark lashes out at Washington's Julie Vanloo and shoves the rival guard as Fever's comeback falls short against Mystics

A Wednesday matinee tip-off betwixt nan Washington Mystics and Indiana Fever resulted successful a heated confrontation betwixt rookie sensation Caitlin Clark and seasoned counterpart, Julie Vanloo.

The incident took spot successful nan 2nd 4th of nan Mystics' 89-84 triumph nan Fever successful Indianapolis connected Wednesday, but things were testy betwixt Clark and Vanloo from nan early stages of nan first.

After assisting connected a Katie Lou Samuelson section extremity to unfastened nan game, Clark followed by pushing disconnected connected Washington's Vanloo earlier hitting a step-back 3-pointer from nan corner. Vanloo went tumbling backwards connected nan play, but did reply pinch a 3-pointer of her ain astatine nan different extremity of nan court.

But it was successful nan 2nd framework that a disappointment Clark was seen shoving her Belgian rival, who was judge to embellish nan interaction for officials.

Clark initiated nan interaction pinch Vanloo from beyond nan 3-point arc while calling for nan shot from teammate Erica Wheeler. Vanloo erstwhile again stumbled backwards, only this clip she sewage correct backmost successful Clark's look arsenic nan erstwhile Iowa prima continued to shoved her away.

Samuelson was seen afterwards trying to calm Clark down, but nan rookie defender didn't look willing successful listening successful nan moment.

The sellout crowd of 17,274 intelligibly sided pinch Clark, who was fortunate she wasn't whistled for a foul connected nan play.

Later, successful nan fourth, Clark was seen shoving Vanloo to nan hardwood for 1 of her 5 fouls connected nan day.

Although nan Fever's comeback effort fell short, Clark played exceptionally well, scoring 29 points and adding 13 assists, 5 steals, 5 rebounds and 3 blocks.

Vanloo, meanwhile, had 13 points and a brace of assists connected nan game.

Clark presently leads Chicago Sky powerfulness guardant Angel Reese successful nan ongoing Rookie of nan Year chase, according to a nationalist sheet of voters.

The 2 person garnered nationalist attraction pinch record-setting rookie seasons — starring to them being nan first rookie duo to make an All-Star squad since 2014 — truthful it's nary astonishment that they're nan starring candidates for nan award.

The brace person helped nan convention to immense increases successful ratings, attendance and merchandise income and pinch truthful overmuch hoops still to beryllium played an statement tin beryllium made for either to triumph nan award.

But astatine nan halfway point, nan 15-member sheet gives nan separator to Clark successful a 9-5 vote, according to The Associated Press. One personification didn't vote.

'Today, I would opportunity Clark, only because they person 1 much triumph wide arsenic a squad and person a 2-1 lead head-to-head,' said elector Christy Winters-Scott, a hoops expert for nan Mystics.

'Clearly this could alteration arsenic nan WNBA play progresses. It has been a complete joyousness for maine to witnesser really some players person evolved arsenic professionals successful specified a short magnitude of clip successful nan league.'

Clark is starring nan WNBA successful points accounted for (points positive points disconnected assists) pinch 713 according to ESPN. The Indiana Fever's No. 1 prime besides became nan first rookie to person a triple-double successful a crippled doing it successful a triumph complete New York.

Reese group nan WNBA grounds for consecutive double-doubles pinch 13, passing Candace Parker's people of 12 group crossed nan 2009 and 2010 seasons. She's starring nan convention successful rebounding pinch 11.9 a game.