Category: Indiana Fever

Chennedy Carter’s Coach Admits Foul on Caitlin Clark Was ‘Not Appropriate’
3 Jun 24 Jimm Sallivan

Chennedy Carter’s Coach Admits Foul on Caitlin Clark Was ‘Not Appropriate’

Chicago Sky coach Teresa Weatherspoon weighed in on the Chennedy Carter-Caitlin Clark controversy in an official statement released by the team on Monday. 

Two days after the Indiana Fever’s 71-70 win over the Sky, Weatherspoon wrote, “Physical play, intensity, and a competitive spirit are hallmarks of Chicago Sky basketball. 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.”

The Sky coach continued, “Chennedy understands that there are better ways to handle situations on the court, and she will learn from this, as we all will. As a team, we will grow together and continue to work hard to display strong leadership and set a positive example for our competitors, fans, and partners.”

In the call heard ‘round the WNBA, Carter shoulder-checked Clark in the third quarter of Saturday’s matchup and was assessed a common foul that was retroactively changed to a Flagrant 1 upon further review. 

Carter refused to answer questions about Clark or the dust-up after the game. The Sky guard did, however, make some noise on social media chirping at Clark’s talent and impact in the league. Carter, the No. 4 pick in the 2020 draft, scored a team-high 19 points in the Sky’s loss. 

Though Carter avoided discipline from the league for her flagrant foul on Clark, the WNBA fined Angel Reese for failing to make herself available to the media after the game and fined the Sky organization for not upholding media policies.

Caitlin Clark, Chennedy Carter, Chicago Sky, Indiana Fever, Teresa Weatherspoon
0
Matt Barnes Calls Out Caitlin Clark’s Fever Teammates With NSFW Message
3 Jun 24 Jimm Sallivan

Matt Barnes Calls Out Caitlin Clark’s Fever Teammates With NSFW Message

Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark, already in the spotlight given her massive following, became the talk of sports after Saturday's game against the Chicago Sky, as Clark was fouled hard by Sky guard Chennedy Carter, sparking a strong reaction from Clark herself, as well as outcry from both fans and Fever coach Christie Sides.

Matt Barnes, who co-hosts the All The Smoke podcast with fellow former NBA player Stephen Jackson, joined the chorus of voices discussing Clark, only he decided to focus less on Carter's foul and more on the reaction, or lack thereof in his eyes, of Clark's teammates to the play.

Barnes, in a post onto his account on Instagram, ripped Clark's Fever teammates for seemingly not coming to her defense on Saturday—or this season as a whole.

"So, there's a hot topic going on right now," Barnes said. "Caitlin Clark says she got cheap-shotted against the Sky. I mean, throughout the season she's been getting beat up. Hard screens, elbows, knocked down. It is what it is. She's not the first. She won't be the last."

"My issue and my question is, where the f--- are her teammates at? Where y'all at? Where are the rest of the Indiana Fever? I've seen a couple girls smirk when she's got knocked down, half-a-- to pick her up. Like, y'all are supposed to protect the asset, protect the star and although this is a team, she's the star."

Barnes, as a former enforcer for 14 seasons in the NBA, then went on to say that the Fever should be "ashamed of themselves."

Barnes is not the only person to suggest the Fever need an enforcer-type on the roster, an opinion that Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green stated in an Instagram post on Saturday—and one that Carter herself seemingly scoffed at.

As Barnes said, the WNBA is going to continue to test Clark. How the Fever respond, especially given Carter's—and perhaps others'—opinions on Clark, should be of the utmost importance to the franchise moving forward.

Caitlin Clark, Chennedy Carter, Chicago Sky, Indiana Fever, Matt Barnes, WNBA
0
Caitlin Clark Shares Heartwarming Moment With Group of Young WNBA Fans
2 Jun 24 Jimm Sallivan

Caitlin Clark Shares Heartwarming Moment With Group of Young WNBA Fans

Caitlin Clark was back in New York on Sunday night for the Indiana Fever's showdown against the New York Liberty at the Barclays Center, and she treated a group of young basketball fans to an awesome moment after they asked her to snap a photo before the game.

Clark was warming up ahead of tip-off on Sunday when she happily obliged a group of Fever fans who wanted to take a photo with her.

In a moment captured by sports reporter Aliyah Funschelle, the group of kids could be seen beaming after Clark walked over and greeted them with some high fives, and they hopped up and gathered around in order to take the photo.

Indiana has gotten off to a slow start to the season, but they picked up a much-needed win on Saturday against the Chicago Sky in order to improve to 2–8. There was some physical play in that game, including a controversial moment between Clark and Sky's Chennedy Carter, but the 22-year-old didn't let any lingering frustrations stand in the way of a heartwarming moment between herself and some of her biggest fans.

Across 10 games in the WNBA, Clark is averaging 16.9 points, 6.5 assists and 5.4 rebounds.

Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever, WNBA
0
Angel Reese Earns WNBA Fine for Not Speaking to Media After Fever Game
2 Jun 24 Jimm Sallivan

Angel Reese Earns WNBA Fine for Not Speaking to Media After Fever Game

Saturday's Indiana Fever 71–70 win over the Chicago Sky caused quite a stir on and off the court.

Sky's Chennedy Carter fouled Fever star Caitlin Clark hard and was originally issued an away-from-ball foul, but it was later changed to a Flagrant 1 after WNBA review. After this hard foul, Sky rookie Angel Reese was seen applauding for her teammate. This on-court moment sparked some controversy on social media.

Reese did not speak to media after the game, and the league fined her $1,000 for failing to attend media sessions. Additionally, the Sky organization was find $5,000 for not making all players available for media.

Fever coach Christie Sides was not happy with the foul, and she even posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, asking for something to be done about fouls like this.

Clark and Reese's names have been intertwined since the two faced each other in the NCAA tournament final in 2023 when Reese's LSU Tigers beat Clark's Iowa Hawkeyes. The two emphasize constantly how there isn't beef between them, but this moment on Saturday caused a social media frenzy regarding the two star rookies, making fans question what the relationship is between them.

Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever, SKY, WNBA
0
Fever Coach Demands Action From WNBA for 'Unacceptable' Fouls on Caitlin Clark
2 Jun 24 Jimm Sallivan

Fever Coach Demands Action From WNBA for ‘Unacceptable’ Fouls on Caitlin Clark

Indiana Fever coach Christie Sides demanded action from the WNBA after rookie guard Caitlin Clark was fouled hard by Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter during the Fever's 71–70 victory over Chicago at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday.

After the game, Sides took to X, formerly known as Twitter, sending a message directly to the league about the "unacceptable" fouls on Clark.

"This is unacceptable @WNBA," Sides wrote. "When will the consistent complaints be heard?!? Something has to be done!"

The foul occurred with 15.8 seconds left in the third quarter on a Fever inbounds play, moments after Carter sank a mid-range jump shot. Clark was preparing to receive the inbounds pass from Fever teammate Aliyah Boston when Carter, who had remained on that side of the court following her made shot, proceeded to shoulder check Clark to the ground.

Officials ruled Carter's move a common foul and the play was not reviewed.

At the end of the quarter, Clark, during a sideline interview, told ESPN that Carter's foul was "not a basketball play." Meanwhile, Sides, after joking that she was "trying not to get fined," told reporters that she has submitted plays involving Clark to the WNBA for review.

"We're just going to keep sending these possessions to the league, and these plays, and hopefully they'll start, you know, taking a better look at some of the things that we see happening, or we think is happening," Sides said.

"Just more happy that Caitlin handled it the way she did. You know, it's tough to keep getting hammered the way she does and to not get rewarded with free throws or foul calls. She's continued to fight through that. Appreciate that from her. Really, really proud of her for doing that."

The WNBA on Sunday upgraded Carter's foul on Clark to a Flagrant 1 after review, according to Alexa Philippou of ESPN. Clark and the Fever will next take on the New York Liberty on Sunday night.

Caitlin Clark, Chicago Sky, Christie Sides, Indiana Fever, WNBA
0
Caitlin Clark Heaps Praise on Angel Reese, Kamilla Cardoso Before Sky-Fever Game
2 Jun 24 Jimm Sallivan

Caitlin Clark Heaps Praise on Angel Reese, Kamilla Cardoso Before Sky-Fever Game

Over the last two years, the friendly rivalry between Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese has elevated two games—women's college basketball and the WNBA—to never-before-seen heights.

Like all truly great sports rivalries, however, Clark and Reese's rivalry is built on mutual respect. On Saturday morning, Clark demonstrated that by praising both Reese and Sky center Kamilla Cardoso before the Fever played Chicago in the afternoon.

"The thing about (Reese), she's been so dominant at what she does ever since we played in high school," Clark said via Julia Poe of The Chicago Tribune. "She's always had a knack for being able to rebound the ball and that's just translated immediately to the WNBA."

Reese entered Saturday averaging 8.2 rebounds per game, ninth in the WNBA.

"Kamilla caused us a lot of problems in the national championship," Clark said of Cardoso. "Kamilla is just scratching the surface of her potential... it's been a lot of fun to watch those two kind of evolve over their college careers."

Each of the trio had a role to play in Indiana's eventual 71–70 win. Clark scored 11 points, pulled down eight rebounds and gave out eight assists; Reese scored eight points and pulled down 13 rebounds; Cardoso scored 11 points and had six rebounds.

Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark, Chicago Sky, Indiana Fever, Kamilla Cardoso, WNBA
0
Caitlin Clark Decries Chennedy Carter's Hard Foul During Fever's Win Over Sky
1 Jun 24 Jimm Sallivan

Caitlin Clark Decries Chennedy Carter’s Hard Foul During Fever’s Win Over Sky

Saturday's game between the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky was supposed to be a celebration of the WNBA's most heralded rookie class ever, with Fever guard Caitlin Clark squaring off against Sky forward Angel Reese and center Kamilla Cardoso.

While still a memorable game—Indiana won 71–70—it became yet another unfortunate referendum on Clark's reputation throughout the league.

Late in the third quarter, Chicago guard Chennedy Carter slammed into Clark on an inbounds pass and was called for an off-ball foul.

When the quarter was over, Clark was asked about the foul.

“Yeah, that’s just not a basketball play,” Clark said via The New York Post. “But you know I’ve gotta play through it, that’s what basketball is about at this level.”

With the win, the youthful Fever improved to 2–8 on the season.

Caitlin Clark, Chennedy Carter, Chicago Sky, Indiana Fever, WNBA
0
Sky’s Chennedy Carter Committed a Hard Off-Ball Foul on Caitlin Clark, and Fans are Heated
1 Jun 24 Jimm Sallivan

Sky’s Chennedy Carter Committed a Hard Off-Ball Foul on Caitlin Clark, and Fans are Heated

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark was on the receiving end of a hard off-ball foul late in the third quarter of Saturday’s matchup against the Chicago Sky.

On a Fever inbounding play, the Sky’s Chennedy Carter bumped Clark to the floor and was assessed a common away-from-play foul, not a flagrant foul.

Clark appeared shaken up after the play, and when the quarter ended, she appealed to the refs for a harsher punishment for Carter. In an interview after the third quarter, Clark called Carter’s foul “not a basketball play.”

In the Fever’s loss to the Seattle Storm on Thursday, Clark had complained about the level of physicality in the league.

“I feel like I’m getting hammered,” Clark said.

WNBA fans weighed in on the hard foul:

Despite Carter's foul, the Fever clinched its first home win of the season, beating the Sky 71–70. Clark finished with 11.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists, shooting 4-of-11 from the field and 2-of-9 from three.

In a postgame press conference, Carter refused to comment on her altercation with Clark.

“I ain’t answering no Caitlin Clark questions,” Carter told reporters.

Caitlin Clark, Chennedy Carter, Chicago Sky, Indiana Fever
0
Angel Reese Strutting Through Locker Room Before Sky-Fever Game Became an Instant Icon
1 Jun 24 Jimm Sallivan

Angel Reese Strutting Through Locker Room Before Sky-Fever Game Became an Instant Icon

Chicago Sky star Angel Reese made her case for being the most relatable player in the WNBA after dazzling in her pregame walkout ahead of the Sky’s matchup against the Indiana Fever on Saturday.

Reese, set to face off against collegiate rival Caitlin Clark for the first time in the big leagues, dropped a hilarious one-liner as she enlisted the help of a cameraperson while posing for pregame pictures.

“Can somebody hold my phone?” Reese asked.

Later on, Reese candidly tells someone filming her, “Let me get these shoes off. A baddie can’t stay too bad too long.”

Reese, the No. 7 pick in the WNBA draft, has averaged 11.0 points and 8.2 rebounds in six games this season, shooting 37.3% from the field. The former LSU standout lost to Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes, 94–87, in an Elite Eight tilt in this year’s NCAA tournament.

Chicago is off to a 3–3 start this season with Kamilla Cardoso set to make her WNBA debut on Saturday. The Sky are currently tied 31-31 with the Fever in the second quarter.

Angel Reese, Chicago Sky, Indiana Fever
0
Caitlin Clark Talks Smack, Gets Technical After Nailing Three-Pointer vs. Storm
31 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Caitlin Clark Talks Smack, Gets Technical After Nailing Three-Pointer vs. Storm

There have been plenty of people making a run at Caitlin Clark during her rookie season in the WNBA, as defenses hone in on the Indiana Fever's star guard as the focal point of their defensive game plan.

Clark hasn't been one to back down from the competition, however, and after draining a big three-pointer against the Seattle Storm on Thursday night, she could be seen getting face-to-face with one of her opponents.

While walking back on defense after her deep three, Clark could be seen jawing back and forth with Storm's Victoria Vivians. The pair got up close and in each other's faces before Aliyah Boston swooped in and pulled her teammate out of the situation.

Clark didn't look too pleased with Vivians as she turned to head back down the court, and they appeared to bump shoulders before being separated.

Officials assessed Vivians and Clark with double technical fouls and play resumed shortly after. Thursday's incident marks the second technical of the season for Indiana's prized rookie, having picked up her first in a game against the Connecticut Sun on May 20.

Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever, Seattle Storm, Victoria Viviens, WNBA
0