Diana Taurasi and Natasha Cloud are the first two W NBA players to be suspended from the league due to accumulated technical fouls. This will be a great lesson, especially to the players who are used to fouling Caitlyn Clark. Diana Taurasi and Natasha Cloud picked up their seventh technical foul of the season during the Phoenix Mercury’s 97 to 79 loss to the Las Vegas Aces. Cloud’s technical came first as she clashed with Kelsey Plum over what she perceived as excessive pushing off. Frustrated with the lack of a call, cloud argued with the referee and was hit with a technical late in the second quarter. Torasi’s technical followed in the third quarter while Phoenix was trying to cut into a massive 28 point deficit. Her tick was more puzzling as it occurred away from the play, leaving fans and commentators confused. Mercury head coach Nate Tibbits acknowledged the growing frustration within the team, not just from the technicals, but from their recent poor performances. Phoenix is on a three game losing streak and has lost four of their last five games, dropping them to seventh place in the standings. They are now just one game ahead of the eighth seed Chicago Sky and Atlanta Dream. With a potential suspension looming, the Mercury could be without two of their most crucial players in their upcoming game against the dream. Despite her age, Tarasi remains a key scorer, averaging 15.3 points per game, while cloud leads the team in assists. With 6.8 per game, tibbits knows the challenge ahead. Losing talent like this is frustrating, but we have to move forward and find a way to win. Phoenix’s playoff hopes hinge on their ability to snap this losing streak, and the absence of Taurasi and cloud could not come at a worse time. The next game against the dream will be critical as they try to secure their spot in the postseason.