Saturday’s matchup between the Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky featured an incident where star guard Caitlin Clark was on the receiving end of a cheap shot, which stirred up a bit of controversy.
The incident came in the third quarter of the game after Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter scored on a midrange jump shot to cut the Fever’s lead to four.
As Clark went to go take the inbound pass from her teammate, she was sent to the floor by Carter before the ball was even put into play. The two seemed to be jarring back and forth throughout the entire possession before the incident, which can be seen in this full video of the moment below.
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
A hard foul that is an actual action that should take place on the basketball court is one thing. But this was completely different and seemingly quite uncalled for since the ball wasn’t even in play at the time. But surprisingly, this wasn’t even ruled to be a flagrant foul.
Naturally, fans took to social media to offer their opinion on the situation, largely ripping Carter for this non-basketball play.
Draymond Green does this to any of the men in the modern NBA and he’s facing jail time
Chennedy Carter didn’t even get a flagrant pic.twitter.com/1svq7HEQKX
— Bad Sports Refs (@BadSportsRefs) June 1, 2024
Chennedy Carter out there proving everyone point about the women targeting Caitlin Clark. They do it to themselves.
— Cheeb 🇺🇸🇳🇬 (@cheeb87) June 1, 2024
Chennedy Carter drills a jumper then lays a body check on Caitlin Clark that should get her a look from the Blackhawks!
— CHGO Sports (@CHGO_Sports) June 1, 2024
Teresa Weatherspoon is chatting with Chennedy Carter. Presumably about that play with Caitlin.
Clark described it as “not a basketball play” during her sideline interview.
I’m inclined to agree. I understand chirping goes on, but ball was nowhere around. Didn’t need that.
— Meghan L. Hall (@ItsMeghanLHall) June 1, 2024
The irony is that Chennedy Carter could have had the hype Caitlin Clark did but has never lived up to her potential since entering the WNBA. https://t.co/7B9CG9kkzI
— Ben Baby (@Ben_Baby) June 1, 2024
It’s obviously impossible to determine what Clark may have said to Carter the possession before to invoke this kind of response from her. But it isn’t the best look to be openly cheap-shotting perhaps the biggest reason that the league has seen a ratings boost this season.
Clark discussed the play in an on-court interview after the third quarter ended, openly criticizing Carter and saying that it “wasn’t a basketball play”.
“Yeah, that’s just not a basketball play,” Clark said, transcribed by the New York Post. “But you know I’ve gotta play through it, that’s what basketball is about at this level. I thought we’ve been really physical, we’ve missed some bunnies around the rim, so hopefully those fall in the fourth.”
Clark and the Fever would get the last laugh, winning the game 71-70 for their first home win of the season and just their third overall win on the year.
Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever hang on to beat Angel Reese, Kamilla Cardoso, and the Chicago Sky, 71-70.
It's Indiana's first home win of the season. 🏀 pic.twitter.com/9i7Wu4wmJJ
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) June 1, 2024
[CJ Fogler on X, New York Post]
