Sky coach: Chennedy Carter foul on Caitlin Clark 'not appropriate'

 

[June 04, 2024]  Chicago coach Teresa Weatherspoon released a statement on Monday addressing Sky guard Chennedy Carter's hard foul on Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark over the weekend.

Carter knocked Clark to the floor with a shoulder-check during Saturday's game, a 71-70 win by the Fever. The WNBA upgraded the foul to a Flagrant 1 on Sunday.

"Chennedy got caught up in the heat of the moment in an effort to win the game. She and I have discussed what happened and that it was not appropriate, nor is it what we do or who we are," Weatherspoon said in the statement.

Originally called an away-from-ball foul, Clark made the free throw with the Fever maintaining possession. It would have been two free throws and possession had it been ruled a Flagrant 1 in-game.

Carter will not be fined by the WNBA.

Carter said later Monday that she isn't happy about the reaction the foul has provoked.

"I'm seeing a lot of things -- players, fans not understanding who I am as a player," Carter said. "You have to understand me as a person, too. And don't just look at one tape and form an opinion about me. I'm truly a passionate person about the game, and I'm genuine. You can ask all my teammates, they've gotten to know me. They know the real Chennedy Carter. So I'm just saying, don't form an opinion off of one little clip. And you didn't even see the whole game and/or the play that led to that."

Chicago rookie Angel Reese backed Carter, who was out of the WNBA last season before finding a spot with the Sky this season.

"You've got to realize all of us have a story. Chennedy has been out of the league. I've had a story behind me," Reese said. "People are going to have their misconceptions about each one of us on this team.

"Everybody doesn't get this opportunity. So when we go out there and play super-hard, compete every single day, it's not personal. I promise you -- it's based off our stories and where we've come from ... we've come from so many different places that you guys have never seen or would never understand. So just being able to go out there and play with that chip on our shoulder every single night, that's just what we do and that's just who we are, and you have to accept that."

On Sunday, Clark address the physical play that teams are using against her.

"You gotta find a way to hold your own. I grew up with two brothers and things were very physical ... so I'm definitely prepared for it," Clark said.

The Fever next play at Washington on Friday in a Commissioner's Cup game. The Fever are 2-9 and the Mystics are 0-8.

--Field Level Media

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