Christie Sides gets tangled up with Caitlin Clark for getting fouled with no call

Indiana Fever lost 103-88 against Seattle Storm on Thursday night despite Caitlin Clark's 20 points and nine assists while playing almost the whole game. 

The Storm scored the most points of the season behind 22 points from Jewell Loyd and 18 points, 9 assists, and 9 steals from Skylar Diggins-Smith. For the Storm, Nneka Ogwumike scored 17. In front of 15,022 fans, Caitlin Clark, who finished with three 3-pointers, played all but four seconds, but he was unable to stop the Fever from dropping to 1-8, the second-worst record in the league.

After exploding to a 10-0 lead in the opening quarter, Seattle Storm never looked back. After leading 47–41 at the half, Seattle went on a 12-run to start the third quarter. In the quarter, the Storm outscored the Fever 34–18, making 12 of their 17 baskets. In a home victory over Indiana on May 22, Loyd—the league's current scoring leader—scored a season-high 32 points.

Christie Sides received a technical penalty

Christie Sides, the Indiana Fever's coach, received a technical penalty while supporting her star rookie, Caitlin Clark, in Thursday night's game against the Seattle Storm. Fieldhouse Files reporter Scott Agness observed a likely no-call on the Storm as Clark went in for a basket, which enraged Sides on the bench. Her fervent reaction to the apparent no-call earned her a technical foul, which Clark received earlier in the game.

When teams defend Clark in a situation like this, the Fever locker room will grow in mutual regard and trust because opponents will continue to put a lot of pressure on Clark in her first WNBA season. Technical fouls are never ideal, but it is only fair to defend your player when you believe they have been wronged and you have not responded appropriately.