Despite being named the Tissot MVP of the FIBA Qualifiers, Caitlin Clark is catching heat over her interactions with referees during the tournament. The criticism comes after the Indiana Fever star led Team USA to a perfect 5-0 run at the Qualifiers that took place in Puerto Rico.

In a recent episode of her podcast Court Vision, two-time Olympian Angel McCoughtry weighed in on Clark’s behavior, arguing that she could've carried herself better.

"Caitlin kind of crashes out on the ref at USA basketball. Caitlin, it was a bad call. Who cares if you miss one? You're wearing USA on your chest. It's a bigger stage; the whole world is watching. Kind of be like, 'Okay.' Give a little shrug, and be like, 'I'm gonna get this next one,'" McCoughtry said.

McCoughtry's comments carry more weight because what happened in Puerto Rico was not a one-time thing for Clark.

A Pattern With Officials

Caitlin Clark's run-ins with officials go further than this tournament, though. During a July 2025 WNBA game against the Connecticut Sun, Clark had to be held back by a Fever assistant coach after getting into it with a referee in the third quarter.

Earlier in that same game, she threatened to call the league office over a disputed ball possession.

The friction followed her even when she was not on the court. While sidelined with a quad strain in May 2025, Clark was still drawing attention by walking toward the paint to argue calls.

Off the court, things weren't any smoother either, as the WNBA fined her $200 last September after she posted "refs couldn't stop us" on social media. She responded to the fine with laughing emojis.

However, on the floor in Puerto Rico, Clark's game spoke for itself. She led Team USA in points, assists, and efficiency across five games, earning a spot on the tournament's All-Star Five alongside Kelsey Plum.

What made it even more remarkable was that she had not played competitive basketball in eight months after an injury-plagued WNBA season limited her to just 13 games.

With the World Cup in Berlin on the horizon, Clark's talent is not in question, but the same cannot be said about her composure.

Do you think Cailtin Clark needs to turn it down a notch when it comes to run-ins with officials? Let us know!

Written by

Sauramita Debbarma

Edited by

Arvind Rao