Caitlin Clark comments on controversial officiating in National Championship Game
Caitlin Clark took the high road when asked about a few controversial calls in Iowa’s National Championship Game loss to LSU on Sunday.
Clark spent much of the game in foul trouble due to a pair of questionable offensive foul calls in the 2nd quarter. Then, the third quarter, Clark was assessed a technical foul for tossing the ball underneath the basket after a play.
The technical also counted as a personal foul, which was her 4th for the game. It put Iowa in a difficult position as it was attempting to come back from a double-digit deficit in the 2nd half.
Iowa seniors McKenna Warnock and Monika Czinano were also in foul trouble. They fouled out after playing just 25 and 22 minutes, respectively.
Clark addressed their absence as well as the tough calls she faced in the game.
“Obviously foul trouble not really what you want in a National Championship Game, especially for our two seniors who have given so much to this program and had to finish their career on the bench,” Clark said. “It’s not something they deserved by any means.
“I thought they called it very, very tight. I don’t know about the two push-offs in the second quarter. I’m sure they saw that I pushed off and they called it and whatnot, and then hit with the technical foul in the third for throwing the ball under the basket.
Head coach Lisa Bluder also commented on the officials and shared frustration that she wasn’t able to have conversations with them throughout the game.
“I can’t comment on the officials,” Bluder said. “It’s very frustrating because I feel like I can’t talk to them. They won’t even listen. That’s what’s frustrating is there wasn’t even a conversation that could be had.
“When your two seniors have to sit on the bench — they don’t know they’re seniors. I get it. But those two women didn’t deserve it. I don’t think so. And then Caitlin getting a T. I don’t know. It’s too bad. Yeah, it’s too bad.”