A reckless shove, a weak excuse, and a missed opportunity for accountability — how one dirty play and a laughable fine exposed deeper issues in the WNBA’s handling of its brightest star.

For anyone who watched the Indiana Fever vs. Connecticut Sun game this week, the moment wasn’t subtle. It wasn’t accidental. And it certainly wasn’t basketball.

In the third quarter, after a hard-fought possession, Caitlin Clark was poked in the eye by Jacy Sheldon. She responded with a mild shove — not unlike what you’d see a dozen times a game in any league. But then came Marina Mabrey, charging from behind like an overzealous bodyguard in a bar fight. What followed was a full-body shove that sent Clark crashing to the floor.

At first, officials handed down offsetting technicals — one for Clark, one for Mabrey. That alone sparked outrage. But what happened after the final buzzer is where the real drama began.

The WNBA reviewed the incident postgame and upgraded Mabrey’s technical to a Flagrant 2. The punishment? A $400 fine. Yes, the same price as a decent courtside ticket. For a deliberate, dangerous hit on the league’s most valuable asset.

Mabrey’s response wasn’t much better. In a tone-deaf social media post, she claimed she was “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” and insisted she was simply defending a teammate. But let’s be clear: shoving someone in the back after the play, when they’re not looking, isn’t “defending.” It’s taking a cheap shot — and hiding behind the excuse of loyalty.

It’s one thing to lose your temper. It’s another to double down on it with zero remorse. Mabrey didn’t apologize. She didn’t acknowledge the danger of her actions. She played the victim — and her family joined the performance. Her sister posted celebratory TikToks. Her mom praised her “defense.” It was delusion dressed up as pride, and fans weren’t buying it.

If this were the NBA and someone shoved LeBron James like that, there’d be suspensions, fines in the five figures, and wall-to-wall coverage on ESPN. Instead, Clark — the face of the league, the engine behind skyrocketing ratings and ticket sales — is left to fend for herself on the court while aggressors get away with fines smaller than an Uber surge fare.

Even worse, this isn’t new for Mabrey. She’s been involved in skirmishes before, earning a reputation among fans as a repeat offender. Her nickname among peers? “The Evil Twin.” Not exactly the brand a league hoping for mainstream credibility should embrace.

But the WNBA’s true failure wasn’t just the soft penalty. It was the silence. No strong statement from the league about protecting stars. No public acknowledgment that what happened was unacceptable. The message was clear: rough up the league’s biggest name, and you’ll be docked less than a sneaker endorsement bonus.

Meanwhile, Caitlin Clark, as she’s done all season, took the high road. No retaliatory tweets. No cryptic quotes. Just 20 points, six assists, and a win on the scoreboard. It’s that maturity — that grace under fire — that’s made her not just a breakout star, but a cultural figure.

The real damage here isn’t just to Marina Mabrey’s wallet. It’s to her reputation. She’s been meme-ified, criticized, and exposed. Sponsors won’t forget it. Neither will fans. And while the $400 fine is already paid, the cost to her image is just beginning to show up on the bill.

The WNBA had a chance to make a statement. To draw a line in the sand and say: “We protect our stars. We value clean play. We respect the game.” Instead, they blinked — and the whole country saw it.

And maybe that’s the biggest foul of all.