Saturday’s game between the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever got quite heated in the third quarter, and the Sky were roundly criticized for how things were handled.
The controversy centered around Chicago’s Chennedy Carter, who was locked in some sort of battle with Caitlin Clark. Late in the third quarter, Clark and Carter appeared to trade words over the course of several possessions, but that sequence ended with Carter going out of her way to check Clark to the floor while play was not even ongoing.
Here's an extended look at the Caitlin Clark – Chennedy Carter incident, there was more to it than the shoulder check and Clark was clearly talking to her on the way back up the floor from the prior basket by Indiana pic.twitter.com/1XG1RyzTw4
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) June 1, 2024
Another angle showed that Carter seemingly called Clark a “b–ch” before decking her.
Caitlin Clark gets called a b*tch then decked by Chicago guard, Chennedy Carter, away from the ball.
Does Caitlin need to toughen up, or are the women out to get her- What y’all think? pic.twitter.com/ajKvPQfr91
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) June 1, 2024
Referees reviewed the play, but shockingly, it was ruled a common foul, not a flagrant.
Many fans were already furious with how things were handled on the court. Carter arguably made things worse after the game, however, when she refused to answer questions about the Clark incident. She concluded by saying she “ain’t answering no Caitlin Clark questions” before reporters were cut off by coach Teresa Weatherspoon.
Chennedy Carter, given a chance to explain herself postgame, says "next question."
Then later, "I ain't answering no Caitlin Clark questions."
Coach Teresa Weatherspoon stepped in: "That's enough. We're good."
Disappointing press conference. Accountability lacking. pic.twitter.com/yw45QUieRo
— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) June 1, 2024
It is one thing if some on-court trash talk led to Carter losing her cool on the floor. The referees’ decision to leave the play as a common foul combined with the lack of remorse or accountability after the game rubbed a lot of people the wrong way.
Clark has had her fair share of confrontations since debuting in the league. It will be interesting to see if the WNBA takes any action regarding this one.
The Fever wound up winning by a point, so Clark got the last laugh.
