INDIANAPOLIS – After the Indiana Fever’s 71-70 win over the Chicago Sky, the subject of dialogue is the altercation between Sky guard Chennedy Carter and Fever guard Caitlin Clark on the finish of the third quarter.
Carter made a bounce shot with 15.8 seconds left within the quarter, then ready to protect Clark, who was set to obtain the inbounds cross. Earlier than the ball was thrown into play, Carter lodged her proper forearm into Clark’s again, sending Clark to the ground. The play was dominated an away-from-the-play foul because of it occurring earlier than the inbound, however it wasn’t upgraded to a flagrant or technical foul. Clark made the free throw to present Indiana a five-point lead heading into the ultimate interval.
The complete alternate started almost 20 seconds earlier when Clark appeared to say one thing to Carter after the Fever recovered a free ball and scored on offense. Carter got here down and received the bucket earlier than knocking Clark over. When initially requested in regards to the interplay in postgame media, Carter responded with “Subsequent query.”
When requested a number of follow-up questions a couple of minutes later, Carter mentioned, “I ain’t answering no Caitlin Clark questions … I don’t know what she mentioned … I didn’t say something,” as Sky coach Teresa Weatherspoon chimed in with a “That’s sufficient.”
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“They’re simply competing,” Weatherspoon later mentioned. “That’s all they’re doing is competing.”
The Fever’s No. 1 general choose has drawn consideration for the extent of physicality and a spotlight she’s drawn from opponents to start her WNBA profession. Enjoying in opposition to stronger and longer gamers has been a rocky transition for Clark at instances.
Clark and Carter’s kerfuffle additionally comes with the backdrop of who the Fever performed. The Sky have rookies Angel Reese (LSU) and Kamilla Cardoso (South Carolina), who Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes performed twice every within the NCAA event throughout nationwide runner-up finishes in 2023 and 2024. The gamers — Clark and Reese particularly — have contributed to elevated nationwide curiosity in ladies’s basketball, which has arrange the possibility for heated matchups between these two Midwestern groups for years to come back.
Weatherspoon feels there was no further catalyst for her crew on Saturday.
“Motivation is all the time in us,” the first-year Sky coach mentioned. “It’s not for one recreation, it’s not for any of that. We’re motivated each time we put our uniform on earlier than we contact the ground. These younger women are motivated. One recreation doesn’t encourage you, if it does, it’s an issue.
“Each recreation you play, you’re motivated. Each follow you may have, you’re motivated. Each time you place the uniform on, you’re motivated. Not one recreation.”
The Sky didn’t have a lot to say in regards to the play that was the discuss of the sport. The Fever and Sky play their second of 4 matchups again at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday, June 16 in one other midday recreation.