Getty Image / Andy Lyons
Arguably the most-anticipated WNBA season ever had arguably its most viral social media moment so far on Saturday, but it was for all the wrong reasons. Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter gave Indiana Fever rookie guard and league sensation Caitlin Clark a definite cheap shot that spread like wildfire through social media.
Carter has repeatedly not shown any remorse for her over-the-top foul, despite repeated chances to do so. Once again on Sunday, instead of apologizing, she instead threw shade at Caitlin Clark, claiming she was a one-dimensional player.
First off, if you haven’t seen the foul, here it is.
Chennedy Carter clearly yelled “You bitch” at Caitlin Clark before throwing a flagrant foul. Dear gosh these #WNBA veterans remain bitter at the reason why they will all get paid more and get private planes this season. pic.twitter.com/Z4SHt6cYn6
— Caitlin Oishi (@caitlinerin) June 1, 2024
Video surfaced on Sunday of Clark hitting Carter with an elbow prior to Carter’s shove of Clark. But I’m not sure how many minds that video is changing on who was in the right and who was in the wrong here.
Caitlin Clark delivering a “saintly” elbow to Chennedy Carter but somehow the Media types don’t talk about it at all. Why the double standard? Caitlin Clark likes to talk a lot on the court. What is she saying? Is it all appropriate?pic.twitter.com/ClcpUXVKJM
— Archie_Tex (@Arch_E_Texture) June 2, 2024
After the game, Carter brushed off the incident and refused to answer questions about it, and later on liked social media posts praising her for the incident
Maybe Carter could reflect and post some sort of apology or acknowledgement of her cheap shot, right? Well, that’s not the path she took.
Instead, she posted on Threads, claiming that the only thing Caitlin Clark, by far the WNBA’s most popular player and biggest commercial draw, brings to the table is three-point shooting.
Well at least she is openly hating Caitlin Clark instead of acting like she doesn't. Insane levels of hatred and jealousy for legit no reason. Crazy. pic.twitter.com/e1OIL03a5b
— Eric Nathan (@BarstoolNate) June 2, 2024
No matter where you stand on Caitlin Clark as a a player or person, NCAA basketball’s all-time leading scorer brings a lot more to the court and off the court than just three-point shooting. She is a generational passer with seemingly never-ending peripheral vision to always find the open teammate. And, her style of play has drawn in crowds, endorsements, and helped the league get teams on charter flights for pretty much every road trip this season.
I don’t think that other players in the league should play a certain way against Caitlin Clark because of her commercial appeal. After all, this is the best women’s basketball league in the world, and all these women have worked incredibly hard to get here and have a competitive drive that few can truly understand. But, to say that she brings nothing else to the table seems kind of silly.
The two teams next square off on June 23 in Chicago for the second WNBA matchup of college rivals in Caitlin Clark and Sky forward Angel Reese.