Stephanie White torches WNBA refs in fiery presser after Caitlin Clark cheap shot

Despite clinching a spot in the Commissioner's Cup Championship game, the Indiana Fever's win on Tuesday night was overshadowed by a drama-filled match-up fueled by a confrontation between Caitlin Clark and Marina Mabrey. Fever head coach Stephanie White had plenty to say about it following the game.

Sparks started to fly after altercations began between Connecticut's Jacy Sheldon and Caitlin Clark. Keep in mind, these two go back into their collegiate days competing in the Big Ten for four years. But one moment in particular raised tensions even more when Jacy Sheldon took a cheap shot to Clark's face while she was driving around the perimeter. That's when Mabrey inserted herself into the altercation, knocking Clark to the floor.

Mabrey was somehow not ejected for this act of behavior causing frustration the remainder of the game. What is even more wild is that Clark got tagged with a technical foul on the play, who virtually did nothing more than grab her face after being swatted at. It was the farthest thing from a basketball play and Mabrey and Sheldon both received nothing more than flagrant fouls for their involvement, or rather the cause-and-effect that stemmed from their behavior.

Head coach Stephanie White did not mince words in her post-game availability with the media. In fact, she even stepped in when a reporter directed an officiating question to Clark, stating that she would be taking all of the questions regarding officials, perhaps protecting her players from potential fines or any form of league punishment. Many may recall that White was fined earlier in the season for expressing her frustrations with the officials publicly and she isn't the only coach in the league who has been so open about the topic.

Stephanie White has no answer for how things can change

She would go on to blast officials for their decisions on the big blowup involving all three players and even took offense to Clark being nabbed with a technical.

"There wasn't an explanation for the technical [Clark] got. I think it was pretty obvious stuff was brewing," White said.

What is even more eye-opening to anyone who watched the game was the lack of control that was displayed by the officiating crew. All of the later scuffles that took place, including the one that led to the ejections of Sophie Cunningham, Jacy Sheldon and Lindsay Allen, also of Connecticut, could have been avoided if the first major incident was handled differently.

How can the officials justify ejecting Cunningham with no previous ejection of Mabrey, who elevated drama from the early part of the game?

"When the officials don't get control of the ball game, when they allow that stuff to happen - and it has been happening all season long - this is what happens!" White exclaimed. "Everybody's getting better, except the officials. We need to remedy that. I mean, we've heard every coach talk about it. I don't know what the answer is," White added.

It's obvious that the necessary steps to increase the integrity of the game have not been taken and the league needs to address the issue before it continues to not be taken seriously by spectators across the globe.

The league has all of the attention currently that it could want and can't afford to have it diminished by unfair and unsportsmanlike play. A more aggressive effort to support and protect every player needs to be further established for the longevity and well-being of the sport.