Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever edged the Chicago Sky 71-70 to win their first home game of the season on Saturday.
But the big story was a cheap shot by Sky guard Chennedy Carter (left) that sent Clark tumbling to the floor late in the 3rd quarter.
With the Fever leading by 4 points, Carter walked up behind Clark and intentionally shoved her.
This is just embarrassing. Caitlin is a bigger person than me. I’d be fed up with this shit. @CaitlinClark22
— Kayce Smith (@KayceSmith) June 1, 2024
The refs called a common foul instead of a flagrant foul, which resulted in one free throw for Clark. The free throw turned out to be the game winner.
After Carter intentionally shoved Clark, Angel Reese jumped up off the bench and cheered.
Angel Reese hopping off the bench to throw a parade for Caitlin Clark’s murder is crazy lollll pic.twitter.com/NKj5Ur7PZG
— Eric Nathan (@BarstoolNate) June 1, 2024
In the 4th quarter, Reese got in a cheap shot of her own by elbowing Clark in the face. No flagrant foul was called.
Now another Sky player with a cheap shot on Caitlin Clark. Angel Reese with the elbow and then stare down. That’s not basketball. pic.twitter.com/gXwPcaatY8
— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) June 1, 2024
After the game, Carter (left) refused to take questions about her hard foul on Clark.
“I ain’t answering no Caitlin Clark questions,” she said. “That’s enough,” Sky coach Theresa Weatherspoon said. “We’re good.”
Chennedy Carter on the sequence with Caitlin Clark in the 3rd quarter: “I ain’t answering no Caitlin Clark questions.”
Full clip: pic.twitter.com/4bRnyXgPjV
— Matthew Byrne (@MatthewByrne1) June 1, 2024
If it wasn’t for Clark, no one would be asking her a question. That’s the ironic part.
— E M (@maascowjr) June 1, 2024
Fever head coach Christie Sides says she sends videos of the abuse to the league’s front office.
But the refs have their orders: ignore the abuse on Clark because she’s white and heterosexual in a league dominated by Black lesbians.
“We’re just going to keep sending these possessions to the league and these plays,” Sides told reporters after the game. “Hopefully they’ll start taking a better look at some of the things that we see happening… It’s tough, to keep getting hammered when she does, and to not get rewarded with free throws… She’s continuing to fight through them… And that’s what I appreciate from her. I’m really proud of her.”
Indiana Fever GM Lin Dunn was more blunt.
“There’s a difference between tough defense and unnecessary targeting actions!” Dunn tweeted. “It needs to stop! The league needs to ‘cleanup’ the crap! That’s NOT who this league is!!”
There’s a difference between tough defense and unnecessary— targeting actions! It needs to stop! The league needs to “ cleanup” the crap! That’s NOT who this league is!!
— Chalk Talk (@LD_ChalkTalk) June 1, 2024
The rampant abuse against Clark hasn’t resulted in any flagrant fouls. Meanwhile, Clark has 3 technical fouls in 9 games and is on the verge of being suspended for one game.
Clark becomes the second player in WNBA history to record 150+ points, 50+ rebounds and 50+ assists through their first 10 career games. She joins the New York Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu.
Clark is also the first WNBA player in league history with her own Wilson basketball.
Sooner or later, Clark will get fed up with the abuse in the WNBA and head overseas for more money.
Then the WNBA players will go back to riding Greyhound buses and playing in half-empty arenas.
“It is what it is,” Clark said in the post-game press conference. “I feel like I’m just at the point where I accept it, like, just let them hit you… Don’t let them get inside your head, and know it’s coming.”
Clark’s fans defended her on social media.
Never heard of Chennedy Carter prior to this cheap shot.
She should thank Caitlin for the spotlight.
— just1n (@just1nvest) June 1, 2024
Back to the greyhound station when Clark leaves
— tonyfromhouston (@tonyfromhouston) June 1, 2024
I think people may look back at this in 20 years when people realize that racism works both ways and Clark the GOAT will be seen as one of the most important athletes of all time.
— Blonde Patriot (@xPatriotBlondex) June 1, 2024
Nothing but class. Way to go. You are getting more exposure, more viewers, more money than you ever have and you’re doing all you can to destroy the one person who’s brought these things to your league. Stay Classy, WNBA.
— Snobby Hops (@snobbyhops) June 1, 2024
