In the WNBA, not all personal fouls are the same.
Common fouls are just that — common personal fouls that are committed over 35 times a game on average. Flagrant fouls, however, are more malicious in nature and do not happen often. As a result, flagrant fouls result in much harsher penalties than a standard personal foul.
There has been an increased focus on determining flagrant fouls after Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter's common foul on Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark was retroactively upgraded to a Flagrant 1 after league review.
What constitutes a flagrant foul in the WNBA? Here is an explanation of the rules around flagrant fouls in the W.
MORE: Caitlin Clark shades WNBA refs again after hard foul from Chennedy Carter
What is a flagrant 1 foul in the WNBA?
In the WNBA, a flagrant foul-penalty 1 is assessed if contact committed against a player is deemed unnecessary. What is "unnecessary" is up to the discretion of the officials but the league's rulebook outlines the parameters of a flagrant 1 foul.
Rule 12B, Section IV-a.: If contact committed against a player, with or without the ball, is interpreted to be unnecessary, a flagrant foul-penalty 1 will be assessed. A personal foul is charged to the offender and a team foul is charged to the team.
A foul must be reviewed using instant replay to confirm it meets the criteria to be ruled a flagrant foul penalty.
Carter's flagrant 1 on Clark is an example of a flagrant 1 foul due to unnecessary contact. In the play, Carter runs up to Clark and makes unnecessary contact by loading up and running her shoulder into Clark, who falls to the floor.
Chennedy Carter bumped Caitlin Clark for an away from the play foul 😳
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) June 1, 2024
"That's not a basketball play," Clark told ESPN on the broadcast. pic.twitter.com/udTMmWFVyn
While the above play was ruled a common away-from-the-play foul in real-time, it was upgraded by the WNBA upon further review.
MORE: Draymond Green says Fever need an enforcer to protect Caitlin Clark
Flagrant 1 foul penalties, fines and discipline
After a flagrant foul-penalty 1 is called, two free throws are awarded to the offended player, and the ball is awarded to the offended team on either side of the court.
If a player commits two flagrant fouls in the same game, they will be automatically ejected.
Carter was not fined or suspended for her act but did receive one flagrant point. Players accumulate points for flagrant fouls during the regular season and receive an automatic suspension if they accumulate enough points.
Here is the league's official explanation of fines for unsportsmanlike acts:
Rule 12A, Section VII-a.: Recipients of technical fouls for unsportsmanlike conduct will be assessed a fine for the first offense and an additional fine for the second offense in any one given game. If a player is ejected on (1) the first technical foul for unsportsmanlike conduct, (2) a punching foul, (3) a fighting foul, or (4) a flagrant foul, an additional fine may be imposed upon such person(s) by the Commissioner at their sole discretion. b. Whether or not said player(s) is ejected, a fine and/or suspension may be imposed upon such person(s) by the Commissioner at their sole discretion.
MORE: WNBA fans plead with Fever to sign enforcer following Clark-Carter scuffle
What is a flagrant 2 foul in the WNBA?
A flagrant foul-penalty 2 is assessed if contact committed against a player is deemed unnecessary and excessive.
Here is more from the rulebook:
Rule 12B, Section IV-b.: If contact committed against a player, with or without the ball, is interpreted to be unnecessary and excessive, a flagrant foul-penalty 2 will be assessed. A personal foul is charged to the offender and a team foul is charged to the team.
The chief difference between a flagrant foul-penalty 1 and a flagrant foul-penalty 2 is the excessive contact in a flagrant 2.
A flagrant foul-penalty 2 is considered an unsportsmanlike act and results in an automatic ejection.
