WNBA makes change related to Chennedy Carter-Caitlin Clark incident

Chennedy Carter was somehow not assessed a flagrant foul for her cheap shot on Caitlin Clark during Saturday night’s game between the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever, but the WNBA has since changed the call.

Clark was knocked down by Carter late in the third quarter of the Indiana Fever’s 71-70 win over Carter’s Chicago Sky at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. Carter’s hip-check on Clark was a non-basketball play, which is why many were surprised no flagrant foul was called.

Referees reviewed the play and stuck with the call of a common foul. But on Sunday, the WNBA announced that Carter’s foul has been upgraded to a Flagrant 1 after the league reviewed the play.

Just received this from WNBA: “Chennedy Carter’s foul against Caitlin Clark on June 1, 2024 has been upgraded to a Flagrant 1 after league review.” Carter is not suspended or fined. She does get one point for the F1. Need 3 or 4 points depending on F1 or F2 to be suspended. https://t.co/cPxQy2KOLi

— Christine Brennan (@cbrennansports) June 2, 2024

You have to wonder if the WNBA took public reaction into account. It was very obvious during the game that Carter targeted Clark and intentionally threw a shoulder into the former Iowa star. Carter even appeared to call Clark a “b–ch” just before initiating the contact.

In addition to Carter receiving a Flagrant 1, Chicago rookie Angel Reese has been fined $1,000 for not speaking with the media after the game. Reese, a former LSU star who had a heated rivalry with Clark in college, had a notable response to Clark being knocked down but did not want to answer any questions about the incident after the game.