The WNBA game between the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky on June 1, 2024, resulted in several controversial moments. One of these incidents involved a foul committed by Chennedy Carter against Caitlin Clark that was later upgraded to a Flagrant 1 after league review. Additionally, Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky were fined for media violations as Reese failed to make herself available to the media after the game.
During the game, Carter body-checked Clark before an inbounds pass just before the end of the third quarter. The foul was initially assessed as an away-from-the-play foul but was later upgraded due to its forceful nature. Despite this, Carter did not receive a fine or suspension for her actions.
The incident sparked heated reactions from both teams and their fans, with Fever head coach Christie Sides expressing her disapproval of the foul on social media. Clark herself remained composed during the game and after it, stating that she would continue to fight through such treatment.
Carter's actions were not without precedent as Clark has faced rough treatment from opposing teams in her early WNBA days. Former NBA player Matt Barnes criticized the lack of support from her teammates during these instances, but it is important to note that this is a common issue for many players in professional sports.
The controversy did not end there as Chennedy Carter took to social media platform Threads to question Caitlin Clark's abilities. In a post, she wrote, “& that’s that on that cause beside three point shooting what does she bring to the table man,” sparking further debate among fans and analysts.
Despite the heated exchanges, both teams moved on from the incident as they prepared for their next games. The Fever faced the New York Liberty, while Clark and her Indiana teammates took on the defending Eastern Conference champions.
