Caitlin Clark Technical Foul: Here’s Why Fever Star Confronted Janelle Salaun in Heated Dust-Up
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) and Golden State Valkyries forward Janelle Salaün (13) get into a scuffle Friday, May 22, 2026, during the first half of a game against the Golden State Valkyries at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Caitlin Clark got her second technical foul of the 2026 WNBA season on Friday after confronting Valkyries’ Janelle Salaun. Just before the halftime whistle, as Clark went for an offensive rebound and jostled with Salaun, she felt a shove in her back from the Valkyries player.
Clark seemingly wasn’t a fan of that and tried to get back at Salaun with a forced swipe at the ball she had rebounded. Salaun flung her right elbow, and Clark got in her face for the previous off-ball shove. Players and staff from both teams got involved and separated them.
As the camera slowed down, the words Clark mouthed amid the verbal altercation became more evident. Here’s what the Fever star said: “Don’t do that s**t. ” Here’s the video of the incident: While Caitlin Clark faces aggressive defense in most games, the Valkyries’ intensity was higher.
She was seemingly frustrated over the lack of non-calls during the game and even lashed out at a referee for inconsistent officiating on both ends, three minutes before her dust-up with Janelle Salaun. In that incident, the broadcasters’ mics picked up Clark’s complaint to the official. “That’s the same call, call it over there,” she yelled.
Clark was returning from a one-game absence due to a back injury. She made the rest day count, putting together one of he best performances of the season against the Valkyries. Clark finished with 22 points and nine assists, shooting 4 of 9 from deep.