Caitlin Clark's Iowa HC Lisa Bluder Talks WNBA Officiating After Fever-Sun Scuffle

Lisa Bluder, Caitlin Clark's head coach during her college career at Iowa, discussed WNBA officiating after the Indiana Fever guard was involved in an altercation during Indiana's 88-71 win over the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday.

Bluder told TMZ Sports that she doesn't think that Clark is being "targeted" by other WNBA players, but opponents are giving her their "best shot" on a nightly basis because "they think that's the way that they can stop her, is by physical dominance over her."

"It's a part of the WNBA," she added. "It's a part of the rules right now, and if we want that to change, I think we have to change the way the game is called."

In the third quarter of Tuesday's clash between Indiana and Connecticut, Clark was inadvertently poked in the eye by Sun guard Jacy Sheldon and responded with a light shove before Connecticut guard Marina Mabrey got involved.

Later in the game, Sheldon and Fever guard Sophie Cunningham got into another scuffle that led to multiple ejections.

Bluder suggested that more fouls should be called to prevent tensions from escalating in the future.

"I think there needs to be more freedom of movement in our game," Bluder told TMZ Sports. "Which means, yes, calling more fouls, which people don't like, but people will adjust. The players will adjust."

"If we start calling more fouls and emphasize the rules, the players will adjust, 'cause they want to be on the floor," she added.

Bluder retired from coaching in May 2024, owning a 528-254 record with the Hawkeyes and winning five Big Ten tournament titles.

She also coached Clark for four years from 2020-24, making national title game appearances in both 2023 and 2024.