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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe WNBA on Sunday upgraded Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter’s foul against Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark to a flagrant-1 violation after reviewing the play.
Carter gave a lunging shot in the side to Clark that knocked her to the floor before an inbound pass during the third quarter of Saturday’s 71-70 win by the Fever in Indianapolis. Carter also appeared to call Clark a “bitch” before slamming into her. The officials called it an away-from-the-ball foul and didn’t review the play. It was deemed a common foul at the time.
“I wasn’t expecting it,” Clark said after the game. “It is what it is. It’s a physical game. Go make the free throw and execute on offense, and I feel like that’s kind of what we did.”
The victory came before another sellout crowd for the Fever, who have already drawn more fans this year (82,857) in five home games than they did in 20 home games a year ago. The Fever also played before sellout crowd Sunday in New York in a 104-68 loss to the Liberty. The Fever (2-9), who have played 11 games in 20 days, are off until Friday’s game in Washington.
Carter didn’t answer questions about Clark or the play after the Saturday’s game. “I ain’t answering no questions about Caitlin Clark,” she told reporters.
The league fined Sky forward Angel Reese $1,000 for failing to make herself available to media after Saturday’s game. The WNBA also fined Chicago $5,000 for failing to ensure that all players comply with league media policies.
The league office may reclassify a flagrant foul or upgrade a foul to a flagrant that isn’t called during the game. In addition, the league may impose a fine or suspend a player for a flagrant foul. The WNBA didn’t do either to Carter.
Players accumulate points for flagrant fouls during the regular season and receive suspensions if they reach a certain number.
“This league is awesome, it’s a physical league,” Indiana coach Christie Sides said before playing the New York Liberty on Sunday night. “That was a non-basketball play that needed to be called in that moment.”
Sides praised Clark in her postgame interview Saturday for keeping her composure through all the physical play she’s faced this season.
“She showed it last night,” the coach said. “Got up and kept playing. All she did was ask the officials to review it. They didn’t want to listen to it. I applaud her for how she handled it last night.”
Clark finished with 11 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Reese had eight points and 13 rebounds.
“I grew up playing basketball with the boys. It’s always been physical and feisty and you have to find a way to hold your own,” Clark said.
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Embarrassing for the league that they reviewed this in game and still kept it as an off the ball foul.
They didn’t review it in game, though. Just called it an away from the ball foul and moved on.
The whole thing is fascinating. CC brought unprecedented attention to women’s basketball helped by the “journalists” desperately pushing the issue
I wondered about the shelf life but I was not expecting the animosity by the current players and their 70 or so fans
Right now the spotlight is on a handful of getto thugs that can’t put together a coherent sentence. the English language. That is not going to jerseys. Slow clap WNBA
My guess is for the next act, the league will completely over correct and try to put a bubble around CC
Cark is taking hard fouls because if jealousy.
These same jealous fools refuse to acknowledge the benefits
that Clark’s presence in the WNBA is bringing them.
Even worse is how racial this is becoming. How dare a white female
athlete in the WNBA get accolade.
Caitlin will earn more respect than she already has if she continues to take the high road on all this nonsense. For her to stay above the fray while arguably frustrated as hell with the Fever performance so far; she is gonna be just fine. That hit by Carter should have been an immediate ejection. Totally non basketball play and extremely physical. These gals going after her out of complete jealousy is somewhat expected I guess— the level of the hatred is surprising (I think). Who does Carter think got her on the chartered flight. This will all come back in Caitlin’s favor if she handles
It correctly and it appears she is poised to do so. Thugs will always be thugs
Larry P.
+1