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The United States Men’s National Team got off to a rousing start at the 2026 World Cup, with a 4-1 win over Paraguay. The USMNT was dynamic, creative, and showed to the entire soccer world that they could be a force to be reckoned with at this tournament.
Now, on the verge of their second match of group play, they have a chance to accomplish another item on this year’s to-do list.
Here are the clinching scenarios for Group D ahead of the final matches in group play.
What are the Group D standings?
Here are the current Group D standings, ahead of the final two matches set for June 25.
Team
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Points
United States 2 0 0 6 1 +5 6 Australia 1 0 1 2 2 0 3 Paraguay 1 0 1 2 4 -2 3 Türkiye 0 0 2 0 3 -3 0
What are the next Group D matches?
There are four matches left in Group D, starting with two on Friday, June 19.
United States 2, Australia 0
Paraguay 1, Türkiye 0
Türkiye vs. United States
Paraguay vs. Australia
What are the scenarios for Group D?
Here are the scenarios ahead of the final day of matches, set for June 25. These scenarios involve automatic qualification for the Round of 32 as one of the top two teams in the group. Teams can still advance as a third-place team, and for more on those standings we have you covered here. In addition, teams that are “eliminated” are guaranteed to finish fourth in their group.
The United States has already clinched the top spot in Group D, and will play a third-place team from Group B, E, F, I, or J. For more on who the United States will play, we are tracking that here.
Australia will clinch a spot in the Round of 32 as the second-place team in Group D with a win or draw against Paraguay
Paraguay will advance as the second-place team in Group D with a win against Australia.
Türkiye has already been eliminated.
Here is how tiebreakers work at the World Cup this year.
If two or more teams in the same group are equal on points following the group stage, a three-step process will be followed to determine tiebreakers.
In the first step, the greatest number of points in the group matches between the tied teams will be applied. Then, the superior goal difference from the group matches between the tied teams will be applied, and finally, the greatest number of goals scored in all group matches between the tied teams will be applied.
If that cannot determine a tiebreaker, then the teams that are still equal will advance to step two. In this stage, the first step is the goal difference in all group matches, then the greatest number of goals in all group matches, and finally the highest team conduct score (relating to yellow and red cards) will be applied.
If that does not break the tie, then the teams still equal on points will be ranked according to the most recent FIFA World Rankings.
That first step, which reads “greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned” according to FIFA, effectively turns into a head-to-head tiebreaker in the case of ties between two teams.
The United States Men’s National Team got off to a rousing start at the 2026 World Cup, with a 4-1 win over Paraguay. The USMNT was dynamic, creative, and showed to the entire soccer world that they could be a force to be reckoned with at this tournament.
Now, on the verge of their second match of group play, they have a chance to accomplish another item on this year’s to-do list.
Here are the clinching scenarios for Group D ahead of the final matches in group play.
What are the Group D standings?
Here are the current Group D standings, ahead of the final two matches set for June 25.
Team | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | +5 | 6 |
| Australia | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Paraguay | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 3 |
| Türkiye | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
What are the next Group D matches?
There are four matches left in Group D, starting with two on Friday, June 19.
United States 2, Australia 0
Paraguay 1, Türkiye 0
Türkiye vs. United States
Paraguay vs. Australia
What are the scenarios for Group D?
Here are the scenarios ahead of the final day of matches, set for June 25. These scenarios involve automatic qualification for the Round of 32 as one of the top two teams in the group. Teams can still advance as a third-place team, and for more on those standings we have you covered here. In addition, teams that are “eliminated” are guaranteed to finish fourth in their group.
The United States has already clinched the top spot in Group D, and will play a third-place team from Group B, E, F, I, or J. For more on who the United States will play, we are tracking that here.
Australia will clinch a spot in the Round of 32 as the second-place team in Group D with a win or draw against Paraguay
Paraguay will advance as the second-place team in Group D with a win against Australia.
Türkiye has already been eliminated.
Here is how tiebreakers work at the World Cup this year.
If two or more teams in the same group are equal on points following the group stage, a three-step process will be followed to determine tiebreakers.
In the first step, the greatest number of points in the group matches between the tied teams will be applied. Then, the superior goal difference from the group matches between the tied teams will be applied, and finally, the greatest number of goals scored in all group matches between the tied teams will be applied.
If that cannot determine a tiebreaker, then the teams that are still equal will advance to step two. In this stage, the first step is the goal difference in all group matches, then the greatest number of goals in all group matches, and finally the highest team conduct score (relating to yellow and red cards) will be applied.
If that does not break the tie, then the teams still equal on points will be ranked according to the most recent FIFA World Rankings.
That first step, which reads “greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned” according to FIFA, effectively turns into a head-to-head tiebreaker in the case of ties between two teams.
The United States Men’s National Team got off to a rousing start at the 2026 World Cup, with a 4-1 win over Paraguay. The USMNT was dynamic, creative, and showed to the entire soccer world that they could be a force to be reckoned with at this tournament.
Now, on the verge of their second match of group play, they have a chance to accomplish another item on this year’s to-do list.
Here are the clinching scenarios for Group D ahead of the final matches in group play.
What are the Group D standings?
Here are the current Group D standings, ahead of the final two matches set for June 25.
Team | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | +5 | 6 |
| Australia | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Paraguay | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 3 |
| Türkiye | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
What are the next Group D matches?
There are four matches left in Group D, starting with two on Friday, June 19.
United States 2, Australia 0
Paraguay 1, Türkiye 0
Türkiye vs. United States
Paraguay vs. Australia
What are the scenarios for Group D?
Here are the scenarios ahead of the final day of matches, set for June 25. These scenarios involve automatic qualification for the Round of 32 as one of the top two teams in the group. Teams can still advance as a third-place team, and for more on those standings we have you covered here. In addition, teams that are “eliminated” are guaranteed to finish fourth in their group.
The United States has already clinched the top spot in Group D, and will play a third-place team from Group B, E, F, I, or J. For more on who the United States will play, we are tracking that here.
Australia will clinch a spot in the Round of 32 as the second-place team in Group D with a win or draw against Paraguay
Paraguay will advance as the second-place team in Group D with a win against Australia.
Türkiye has already been eliminated.
Here is how tiebreakers work at the World Cup this year.
If two or more teams in the same group are equal on points following the group stage, a three-step process will be followed to determine tiebreakers.
In the first step, the greatest number of points in the group matches between the tied teams will be applied. Then, the superior goal difference from the group matches between the tied teams will be applied, and finally, the greatest number of goals scored in all group matches between the tied teams will be applied.
If that cannot determine a tiebreaker, then the teams that are still equal will advance to step two. In this stage, the first step is the goal difference in all group matches, then the greatest number of goals in all group matches, and finally the highest team conduct score (relating to yellow and red cards) will be applied.
If that does not break the tie, then the teams still equal on points will be ranked according to the most recent FIFA World Rankings.
That first step, which reads “greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned” according to FIFA, effectively turns into a head-to-head tiebreaker in the case of ties between two teams.
June 24, 2026; Monterrey, Mexico; South Africa’s Thapelo Maseko scores their first goal. Mandatory Credit: Eloisa Sanchez-Reuters via Imagn Images Thapelo Maseko’s second-half goal lifted South Africa to a must-win 1-0 result against South Korea in their Group A finale in Guadalupe, Mexico, on Wednesday, sending Bafana Bafana to the World Cup knockout stage for the first time.
Maseko put South Africa in front in the 63rd minute with a clinical finish, burying a shot from his favored left foot to the right corner after a precision pass by Tshepang Moremi.
Ronwen Williams preserved the lead with a save on Park Jin-seob’s header in the third minute of second-half stoppage time.
South Korea (1-2-0, 3 points) needed a win or draw to finish runner-up to Mexico and advance to the round of 32.
South Africa (1-1-1, 4 points) had to win and have Czech Republic lose to Mexico in the concurrent match to claim the second spot. Mexico (3-0-9, 9 points) logged a 3-0 win over the Czechs (0-2-1, 1 points), and when the hosts’ 1-0 lead was posted in the Guadalupe stadium in the 55th minute, the South African fans joined the Mexicans in attendance in celebrating.
South Africa was written off by many after losing the opening match of the World Cup 2-0 to Mexico while having two players sent off.
The South Africans had failed to get out of the group stage in their previous World Cups in 1998, 2002 and 2010.
South Korea still have a chance to advance in the event as one of the best third-place teams, but they will need other results to go their way.
South Korea started as if it were playing for the win with several forays into the penalty area in the first three minutes but soon fell into a conservative mode. That change allowed the underdog South Africans to have the better of the play for the remainder of the first half.
If not for three saves by Kim Seung-gyu and poor finishing, South Africa could have carried a lead into halftime.
South Korea’s Kim Min-jae’s header in the third minute was cleared off the line by Aubrey Modiba, but after that it was all South Africa.
South Africa had two chances in the 30th minute, only to have Kim make back-to-back stops.
First, Thalente Mbatha found space at the top of the box and put a well-driven strike on target. Kim made the save but spilled the rebound. Evidence Makgopa, who barely managed to stay onside, collected the rebound at the 6-yard box, but Kim was in perfect position for the denial.
–Field Level Media
#Deadspin #South #Africa #stun #South #Korea #advance #place #Group">Deadspin | South Africa stun South Korea, advance in second place from Group A June 24, 2026; Monterrey, Mexico; South Africa’s Thapelo Maseko scores their first goal. Mandatory Credit: Eloisa Sanchez-Reuters via Imagn Images
#Deadspin #South #Africa #stun #South #Korea #advance #place #Group
June 24, 2026; Monterrey, Mexico; South Africa’s Thapelo Maseko scores their first goal. Mandatory Credit: Eloisa Sanchez-Reuters via Imagn Images Thapelo Maseko’s second-half goal lifted South Africa to a must-win 1-0 result against South Korea in their Group A finale in Guadalupe, Mexico, on Wednesday, sending Bafana Bafana to the World Cup knockout stage for the first time.
Maseko put South Africa in front in the 63rd minute with a clinical finish, burying a shot from his favored left foot to the right corner after a precision pass by Tshepang Moremi.
Ronwen Williams preserved the lead with a save on Park Jin-seob’s header in the third minute of second-half stoppage time.
South Korea (1-2-0, 3 points) needed a win or draw to finish runner-up to Mexico and advance to the round of 32.
South Africa (1-1-1, 4 points) had to win and have Czech Republic lose to Mexico in the concurrent match to claim the second spot. Mexico (3-0-9, 9 points) logged a 3-0 win over the Czechs (0-2-1, 1 points), and when the hosts’ 1-0 lead was posted in the Guadalupe stadium in the 55th minute, the South African fans joined the Mexicans in attendance in celebrating.
South Africa was written off by many after losing the opening match of the World Cup 2-0 to Mexico while having two players sent off.
The South Africans had failed to get out of the group stage in their previous World Cups in 1998, 2002 and 2010.
South Korea still have a chance to advance in the event as one of the best third-place teams, but they will need other results to go their way.
South Korea started as if it were playing for the win with several forays into the penalty area in the first three minutes but soon fell into a conservative mode. That change allowed the underdog South Africans to have the better of the play for the remainder of the first half.
If not for three saves by Kim Seung-gyu and poor finishing, South Africa could have carried a lead into halftime.
South Korea’s Kim Min-jae’s header in the third minute was cleared off the line by Aubrey Modiba, but after that it was all South Africa.
South Africa had two chances in the 30th minute, only to have Kim make back-to-back stops.
First, Thalente Mbatha found space at the top of the box and put a well-driven strike on target. Kim made the save but spilled the rebound. Evidence Makgopa, who barely managed to stay onside, collected the rebound at the 6-yard box, but Kim was in perfect position for the denial.
–Field Level Media
INDIANAPOLIS — After a second straight game defined largely by non-basketball plays involving Caitlin Clark, Fever head coach Stephanie White hit her breaking point.
Wednesday’s 111-109 loss to the Mercury featured Clark leaving with an injury midway through the third quarter. Still plenty took place before then.
A pair of incidents in the second quarter saw Clark take a beating before eventually leaving the game with a back injury. White unloaded on the officials in her postgame press conference, calling the lack of calls “egregious” and “utterly disrespectful.”
“We have a generational talent and a WNBA superstar who had two cheap shots right there that weren’t called,” White said. “And I just say again, absolutely unacceptable.
“We spent all offseason looking at officiating. All offseason. And I still say the one thing that we keep asking for is consistency. She is not called the same way everybody else is called.”
First, Clark and Alyssa Thomas got tangled in the paint while battling for a loose ball in a sequence that saw Thomas push her fist into Clark’s neck, knee her in the stomach and then step over her. No foul was called and the play wasn’t reviewed.
One possession later, Clark was fouled on a 3-pointer, leading to an awkward landing. Clark, who has dealt with a back injury most of the season, was slow to get up and looked to be in discomfort. The officials reviewed the play, but not for a potential flagrant foul or a landing zone violation.
Instead, the review was for a potential hostile act by Clark for hitting her defender in the face.
She remained in the game and even started the second half. However, Clark left near the midway point of the quarter and was ruled out for the rest of the game due to the back injury. White did not have an update on Clark’s status after the game.
All of this came on the heels of these two teams having multiple scuffles in their meeting on Monday, resulting in a slew of technical fouls and plenty of bad blood.
“Number one, you got to call [the foul on Thomas],” White said. “It’s absolutely egregious and utterly disrespectful. And then No. 2, you’re coming in here aware of what happened two nights ago and that s— still happens? Absolutely unacceptable. Absolutely unacceptable.
“And the reckless closeout that they’ve actually reviewed, and the foot still comes down on top of the defender’s foot that wasn’t upgraded? Absolutely disrespectful.”
White is not new to calling out officials. Last season, she also called the officiating “disrespectful” following a controversial late play against the Liberty. Nearly a month later, following a game that saw multiple technicals, flagrants and ejections against the Sun, White again criticized the officials for not improving along with the rest of the league.
White has also defended her star player this season, but never as passionately as she did on Wednesday.
“Because they were so egregious,” White said of what was different this time. “I mean, the fist in the throat is crazy. It’s crazy. It’s dangerous. The landing spot, when you went to review it and she still comes down on top of another foot. Like, I don’t know, cause to me, that’s like a do-over on a test. How do you screw it up again?
”When you have these things continue to happen time and time and time and time and time again, eventually it gets frustrating, but I thought those were just more egregious.”
Frustration this season has piled up for the Fever, who fell to 10-7 with the loss. Indiana has struggled to string together wins and set the league record for most losses when scoring 100+ points in a season on Wednesday.
But, too often, the game itself is taking a back seat to moments like Wednesday’s. And for White, enough was enough.
![Stephanie White blasts officials after ‘cheap shots’ on Caitlin Clark INDIANAPOLIS — After a second straight game defined largely by non-basketball plays involving Caitlin Clark, Fever head coach Stephanie White hit her breaking point.Wednesday’s 111-109 loss to the Mercury featured Clark leaving with an injury midway through the third quarter. Still plenty took place before then.A pair of incidents in the second quarter saw Clark take a beating before eventually leaving the game with a back injury. White unloaded on the officials in her postgame press conference, calling the lack of calls “egregious” and “utterly disrespectful.”“We have a generational talent and a WNBA superstar who had two cheap shots right there that weren’t called,” White said. “And I just say again, absolutely unacceptable.“We spent all offseason looking at officiating. All offseason. And I still say the one thing that we keep asking for is consistency. She is not called the same way everybody else is called.”First, Clark and Alyssa Thomas got tangled in the paint while battling for a loose ball in a sequence that saw Thomas push her fist into Clark’s neck, knee her in the stomach and then step over her. No foul was called and the play wasn’t reviewed.One possession later, Clark was fouled on a 3-pointer, leading to an awkward landing. Clark, who has dealt with a back injury most of the season, was slow to get up and looked to be in discomfort. The officials reviewed the play, but not for a potential flagrant foul or a landing zone violation.Instead, the review was for a potential hostile act by Clark for hitting her defender in the face.She remained in the game and even started the second half. However, Clark left near the midway point of the quarter and was ruled out for the rest of the game due to the back injury. White did not have an update on Clark’s status after the game.All of this came on the heels of these two teams having multiple scuffles in their meeting on Monday, resulting in a slew of technical fouls and plenty of bad blood.“Number one, you got to call [the foul on Thomas],” White said. “It’s absolutely egregious and utterly disrespectful. And then No. 2, you’re coming in here aware of what happened two nights ago and that s— still happens? Absolutely unacceptable. Absolutely unacceptable.“And the reckless closeout that they’ve actually reviewed, and the foot still comes down on top of the defender’s foot that wasn’t upgraded? Absolutely disrespectful.”White is not new to calling out officials. Last season, she also called the officiating “disrespectful” following a controversial late play against the Liberty. Nearly a month later, following a game that saw multiple technicals, flagrants and ejections against the Sun, White again criticized the officials for not improving along with the rest of the league.White has also defended her star player this season, but never as passionately as she did on Wednesday.“Because they were so egregious,” White said of what was different this time. “I mean, the fist in the throat is crazy. It’s crazy. It’s dangerous. The landing spot, when you went to review it and she still comes down on top of another foot. Like, I don’t know, cause to me, that’s like a do-over on a test. How do you screw it up again?”When you have these things continue to happen time and time and time and time and time again, eventually it gets frustrating, but I thought those were just more egregious.”Frustration this season has piled up for the Fever, who fell to 10-7 with the loss. Indiana has struggled to string together wins and set the league record for most losses when scoring 100+ points in a season on Wednesday.But, too often, the game itself is taking a back seat to moments like Wednesday’s. And for White, enough was enough. #Stephanie #White #blasts #officials #cheap #shots #Caitlin #Clark](https://i0.wp.com/platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/06/imagn-29265574.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C10.745438151648%2C100%2C78.509123696704&w=1200&ssl=1 "Stephanie White blasts officials after ‘cheap shots’ on Caitlin Clark INDIANAPOLIS — After a second straight game defined largely by non-basketball plays involving Caitlin Clark, Fever head coach Stephanie White hit her breaking point.Wednesday’s 111-109 loss to the Mercury featured Clark leaving with an injury midway through the third quarter. Still plenty took place before then.A pair of incidents in the second quarter saw Clark take a beating before eventually leaving the game with a back injury. White unloaded on the officials in her postgame press conference, calling the lack of calls “egregious” and “utterly disrespectful.”“We have a generational talent and a WNBA superstar who had two cheap shots right there that weren’t called,” White said. “And I just say again, absolutely unacceptable.“We spent all offseason looking at officiating. All offseason. And I still say the one thing that we keep asking for is consistency. She is not called the same way everybody else is called.”First, Clark and Alyssa Thomas got tangled in the paint while battling for a loose ball in a sequence that saw Thomas push her fist into Clark’s neck, knee her in the stomach and then step over her. No foul was called and the play wasn’t reviewed.One possession later, Clark was fouled on a 3-pointer, leading to an awkward landing. Clark, who has dealt with a back injury most of the season, was slow to get up and looked to be in discomfort. The officials reviewed the play, but not for a potential flagrant foul or a landing zone violation.Instead, the review was for a potential hostile act by Clark for hitting her defender in the face.She remained in the game and even started the second half. However, Clark left near the midway point of the quarter and was ruled out for the rest of the game due to the back injury. White did not have an update on Clark’s status after the game.All of this came on the heels of these two teams having multiple scuffles in their meeting on Monday, resulting in a slew of technical fouls and plenty of bad blood.“Number one, you got to call [the foul on Thomas],” White said. “It’s absolutely egregious and utterly disrespectful. And then No. 2, you’re coming in here aware of what happened two nights ago and that s— still happens? Absolutely unacceptable. Absolutely unacceptable.“And the reckless closeout that they’ve actually reviewed, and the foot still comes down on top of the defender’s foot that wasn’t upgraded? Absolutely disrespectful.”White is not new to calling out officials. Last season, she also called the officiating “disrespectful” following a controversial late play against the Liberty. Nearly a month later, following a game that saw multiple technicals, flagrants and ejections against the Sun, White again criticized the officials for not improving along with the rest of the league.White has also defended her star player this season, but never as passionately as she did on Wednesday.“Because they were so egregious,” White said of what was different this time. “I mean, the fist in the throat is crazy. It’s crazy. It’s dangerous. The landing spot, when you went to review it and she still comes down on top of another foot. Like, I don’t know, cause to me, that’s like a do-over on a test. How do you screw it up again?”When you have these things continue to happen time and time and time and time and time again, eventually it gets frustrating, but I thought those were just more egregious.”Frustration this season has piled up for the Fever, who fell to 10-7 with the loss. Indiana has struggled to string together wins and set the league record for most losses when scoring 100+ points in a season on Wednesday.But, too often, the game itself is taking a back seat to moments like Wednesday’s. And for White, enough was enough. #Stephanie #White #blasts #officials #cheap #shots #Caitlin #Clark")
INDIANAPOLIS — After a second straight game defined largely by non-basketball plays involving Caitlin Clark, Fever head coach Stephanie White hit her breaking point.
Wednesday’s 111-109 loss to the Mercury featured Clark leaving with an injury midway through the third quarter. Still plenty took place before then.
A pair of incidents in the second quarter saw Clark take a beating before eventually leaving the game with a back injury. White unloaded on the officials in her postgame press conference, calling the lack of calls “egregious” and “utterly disrespectful.”
“We have a generational talent and a WNBA superstar who had two cheap shots right there that weren’t called,” White said. “And I just say again, absolutely unacceptable.
“We spent all offseason looking at officiating. All offseason. And I still say the one thing that we keep asking for is consistency. She is not called the same way everybody else is called.”
First, Clark and Alyssa Thomas got tangled in the paint while battling for a loose ball in a sequence that saw Thomas push her fist into Clark’s neck, knee her in the stomach and then step over her. No foul was called and the play wasn’t reviewed.
One possession later, Clark was fouled on a 3-pointer, leading to an awkward landing. Clark, who has dealt with a back injury most of the season, was slow to get up and looked to be in discomfort. The officials reviewed the play, but not for a potential flagrant foul or a landing zone violation.
Instead, the review was for a potential hostile act by Clark for hitting her defender in the face.
She remained in the game and even started the second half. However, Clark left near the midway point of the quarter and was ruled out for the rest of the game due to the back injury. White did not have an update on Clark’s status after the game.
All of this came on the heels of these two teams having multiple scuffles in their meeting on Monday, resulting in a slew of technical fouls and plenty of bad blood.
“Number one, you got to call [the foul on Thomas],” White said. “It’s absolutely egregious and utterly disrespectful. And then No. 2, you’re coming in here aware of what happened two nights ago and that s— still happens? Absolutely unacceptable. Absolutely unacceptable.
“And the reckless closeout that they’ve actually reviewed, and the foot still comes down on top of the defender’s foot that wasn’t upgraded? Absolutely disrespectful.”
White is not new to calling out officials. Last season, she also called the officiating “disrespectful” following a controversial late play against the Liberty. Nearly a month later, following a game that saw multiple technicals, flagrants and ejections against the Sun, White again criticized the officials for not improving along with the rest of the league.
White has also defended her star player this season, but never as passionately as she did on Wednesday.
“Because they were so egregious,” White said of what was different this time. “I mean, the fist in the throat is crazy. It’s crazy. It’s dangerous. The landing spot, when you went to review it and she still comes down on top of another foot. Like, I don’t know, cause to me, that’s like a do-over on a test. How do you screw it up again?
”When you have these things continue to happen time and time and time and time and time again, eventually it gets frustrating, but I thought those were just more egregious.”
Frustration this season has piled up for the Fever, who fell to 10-7 with the loss. Indiana has struggled to string together wins and set the league record for most losses when scoring 100+ points in a season on Wednesday.
But, too often, the game itself is taking a back seat to moments like Wednesday’s. And for White, enough was enough.
INDIANAPOLIS — After a second straight game defined largely by non-basketball plays involving Caitlin Clark, Fever head coach Stephanie White hit her breaking point.
Wednesday’s 111-109 loss to the Mercury featured Clark leaving with an injury midway through the third quarter. Still plenty took place before then.
A pair of incidents in the second quarter saw Clark take a beating before eventually leaving the game with a back injury. White unloaded on the officials in her postgame press conference, calling the lack of calls “egregious” and “utterly disrespectful.”
“We have a generational talent and a WNBA superstar who had two cheap shots right there that weren’t called,” White said. “And I just say again, absolutely unacceptable.
“We spent all offseason looking at officiating. All offseason. And I still say the one thing that we keep asking for is consistency. She is not called the same way everybody else is called.”
First, Clark and Alyssa Thomas got tangled in the paint while battling for a loose ball in a sequence that saw Thomas push her fist into Clark’s neck, knee her in the stomach and then step over her. No foul was called and the play wasn’t reviewed.
One possession later, Clark was fouled on a 3-pointer, leading to an awkward landing. Clark, who has dealt with a back injury most of the season, was slow to get up and looked to be in discomfort. The officials reviewed the play, but not for a potential flagrant foul or a landing zone violation.
Instead, the review was for a potential hostile act by Clark for hitting her defender in the face.
She remained in the game and even started the second half. However, Clark left near the midway point of the quarter and was ruled out for the rest of the game due to the back injury. White did not have an update on Clark’s status after the game.
All of this came on the heels of these two teams having multiple scuffles in their meeting on Monday, resulting in a slew of technical fouls and plenty of bad blood.
“Number one, you got to call [the foul on Thomas],” White said. “It’s absolutely egregious and utterly disrespectful. And then No. 2, you’re coming in here aware of what happened two nights ago and that s— still happens? Absolutely unacceptable. Absolutely unacceptable.
“And the reckless closeout that they’ve actually reviewed, and the foot still comes down on top of the defender’s foot that wasn’t upgraded? Absolutely disrespectful.”
White is not new to calling out officials. Last season, she also called the officiating “disrespectful” following a controversial late play against the Liberty. Nearly a month later, following a game that saw multiple technicals, flagrants and ejections against the Sun, White again criticized the officials for not improving along with the rest of the league.
White has also defended her star player this season, but never as passionately as she did on Wednesday.
“Because they were so egregious,” White said of what was different this time. “I mean, the fist in the throat is crazy. It’s crazy. It’s dangerous. The landing spot, when you went to review it and she still comes down on top of another foot. Like, I don’t know, cause to me, that’s like a do-over on a test. How do you screw it up again?
”When you have these things continue to happen time and time and time and time and time again, eventually it gets frustrating, but I thought those were just more egregious.”
Frustration this season has piled up for the Fever, who fell to 10-7 with the loss. Indiana has struggled to string together wins and set the league record for most losses when scoring 100+ points in a season on Wednesday.
But, too often, the game itself is taking a back seat to moments like Wednesday’s. And for White, enough was enough.
INDIANAPOLIS — After a second straight game defined largely by non-basketball plays involving Caitlin Clark, Fever head coach Stephanie White hit her breaking point.
Wednesday’s 111-109 loss to the Mercury featured Clark leaving with an injury midway through the third quarter. Still plenty took place before then.
A pair of incidents in the second quarter saw Clark take a beating before eventually leaving the game with a back injury. White unloaded on the officials in her postgame press conference, calling the lack of calls “egregious” and “utterly disrespectful.”
“We have a generational talent and a WNBA superstar who had two cheap shots right there that weren’t called,” White said. “And I just say again, absolutely unacceptable.
“We spent all offseason looking at officiating. All offseason. And I still say the one thing that we keep asking for is consistency. She is not called the same way everybody else is called.”
First, Clark and Alyssa Thomas got tangled in the paint while battling for a loose ball in a sequence that saw Thomas push her fist into Clark’s neck, knee her in the stomach and then step over her. No foul was called and the play wasn’t reviewed.
One possession later, Clark was fouled on a 3-pointer, leading to an awkward landing. Clark, who has dealt with a back injury most of the season, was slow to get up and looked to be in discomfort. The officials reviewed the play, but not for a potential flagrant foul or a landing zone violation.
Instead, the review was for a potential hostile act by Clark for hitting her defender in the face.
She remained in the game and even started the second half. However, Clark left near the midway point of the quarter and was ruled out for the rest of the game due to the back injury. White did not have an update on Clark’s status after the game.
All of this came on the heels of these two teams having multiple scuffles in their meeting on Monday, resulting in a slew of technical fouls and plenty of bad blood.
“Number one, you got to call [the foul on Thomas],” White said. “It’s absolutely egregious and utterly disrespectful. And then No. 2, you’re coming in here aware of what happened two nights ago and that s— still happens? Absolutely unacceptable. Absolutely unacceptable.
“And the reckless closeout that they’ve actually reviewed, and the foot still comes down on top of the defender’s foot that wasn’t upgraded? Absolutely disrespectful.”
White is not new to calling out officials. Last season, she also called the officiating “disrespectful” following a controversial late play against the Liberty. Nearly a month later, following a game that saw multiple technicals, flagrants and ejections against the Sun, White again criticized the officials for not improving along with the rest of the league.
White has also defended her star player this season, but never as passionately as she did on Wednesday.
“Because they were so egregious,” White said of what was different this time. “I mean, the fist in the throat is crazy. It’s crazy. It’s dangerous. The landing spot, when you went to review it and she still comes down on top of another foot. Like, I don’t know, cause to me, that’s like a do-over on a test. How do you screw it up again?
”When you have these things continue to happen time and time and time and time and time again, eventually it gets frustrating, but I thought those were just more egregious.”
Frustration this season has piled up for the Fever, who fell to 10-7 with the loss. Indiana has struggled to string together wins and set the league record for most losses when scoring 100+ points in a season on Wednesday.
But, too often, the game itself is taking a back seat to moments like Wednesday’s. And for White, enough was enough.
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