Caitlin Clark technical foul: Referee called Fever rookie 'disrespectful to the game of basketball'

The Fever's 92-75 win Sunday over the Storm brought just about everything for Caitlin Clark, from a WNBA rookie record to a technical foul.

While the 22-year-old guard has taken her leap to the professional level in stride, she made it clear after the game that she didn't agree with the official's decision to hit her with her fifth technical of the season.

"I got a technical for basically being mad at myself," Clark told reporters after the game, explaining that she hit the stanchion under the basket out of frustration and was promptly told by an official that her action was "disrespectful to the game of basketball."

The WNBA All-Star slammed her fist into the stanchion while the Fever were preparing to inbound the ball in the third quarter shortly after she missed a 3-pointer. She received a technical foul for the action.

"Had nothing to do with my team, had nothing to do with their reffing, had nothing to do with the other team," Clark said.

Clark isn't known for a fiery personality off the court, but she shows plenty of passion on it. As the face of women's college basketball over the last two seasons, it wasn't uncommon to see the Iowa phenom firing herself up or expressing frustration with officials.

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Despite Clark's frustration with the foul, she said after Sunday's win that she used it to her advantage.

"I think he fired me up to continue to play a lot harder. I thought we got a lot better after he did that," Clark explained.

The evidence backs up her claim. Indiana led 43-38 at the time of the call but ended up winning by 17 points , outscoring Seattle 33-17 in the fourth quarter.

If it works, it works. But it's probably not a strategy the Fever want to see more of, as Clark has been assessed five technical fouls already this season and would be suspended for one game if she receives two more .