Coach says Sky ‘will be taught’ from flagrant on Clark, whereas Carter says she’s greater than ‘one little clip’

Chicago Sky coach Teresa Weatherspoon stated guard Chennedy Carter and the crew “will be taught” from an incident in Saturday’s recreation when Carter dedicated a flagrant foul 1 towards Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark.

“Bodily play, depth, and a aggressive spirit are hallmarks of Chicago Sky basketball,” Weatherspoon stated in a press release launched Monday. “Chennedy received caught up within the warmth of the second in an effort to win the sport.

“She and I’ve mentioned what occurred and that it was not applicable, neither is it what we do or who we’re. Chennedy understands that there are higher methods to deal with conditions on the court docket, and she is going to be taught from this, as all of us will.”

When chatting with the media later Monday, Carter struck a bit completely different tone than Weatherspoon did.

“I am seeing a number of issues — gamers, followers not understanding who I’m as a participant,” Carter stated. “You must perceive me as an individual, too. And do not simply take a look at one tape and kind an opinion about me. I am actually a passionate particular person concerning the recreation, and I am real. You may ask all my teammates, they’ve gotten to know me. They know the actual Chennedy Carter. So I am simply saying, do not kind an opinion off of 1 little clip. And also you did not even see the entire recreation and/or the play that led to that.”

In the course of the third quarter of a bodily, back-and-forth recreation received 71-70 by the Fever in Indianapolis, Carter shoulder-checked Clark from behind and knocked her down earlier than the basketball was inbounded.

The play was not reviewed by recreation officers and was referred to as an away-from-the-ball frequent foul, however the WNBA on Sunday upgraded it to a flagrant 1 after a league assessment. After the sport, Carter did not reply questions concerning the incident with Clark however made posts about it on social media. Indiana coach Christie Sides and common supervisor Lin Dunn each expressed concern after Saturday’s recreation concerning the incident and the bodily play that Clark, the No. 1 draft decide, has confronted this season.

We type of went by way of this final 12 months with [Aliyah Boston],” Sides stated of the Fever’s 2023 high draft decide. “New rookies, No. 1 picks … gamers wish to present that they are vets on this league, and so they do wish to make it arduous on these rookies. That is simply the way it goes.

“We despatched video in [to the WNBA] final 12 months. We had been making our complaints to strive to determine to assist AB. Then the identical this 12 months with Caitlin. It is the identical factor. We’ll proceed to battle to attempt to get the calls; they see one factor, and we see one other.”

Clark stated on Sunday concerning the bodily play: “You bought to discover a option to maintain your individual. I grew up with two brothers and issues had been very bodily … so I am positively ready for it.”

Weatherspoon, one of many stars within the opening years of the WNBA with the New York Liberty, is in her first season as a head coach within the league. Carter was the No. 4 draft decide by the Atlanta Dream in 2020 however was suspended throughout her second season — enjoying 11 video games in 2021 — after which traded to the Los Angeles Sparks, with whom she appeared in 24 video games in 2022.

Carter was waived by the Sparks earlier than the 2023 season and did not play within the WNBA final season. She signed as a free agent with the Sky in February and is averaging 12.0 factors by way of seven video games.

“As a crew, we’ll develop collectively,” Weatherspoon concluded in her assertion, “and proceed to work arduous to show sturdy management and set a constructive instance for our rivals, followers, and companions.”

Carter’s teammate, No. 7 draft decide Angel Reese, stated Monday that what occurred Saturday and with bodily play basically is “simply competitors.” Towards Connecticut on Might 25, Solar veteran Alyssa Thomas prolonged her arm into Reese’s neck and pushed Reese towards the ground. Reese took a tough fall however returned to recreation motion. Thomas was assessed a flagrant foul 2 and ejected from the sport.

“You have to notice all of us have a narrative. Chennedy has been out of the league. I’ve had a narrative behind me,” Reese stated. “Individuals are going to have their misconceptions about every one in every of us on this crew.

“All people does not get this chance. So after we go on the market and play tremendous arduous, compete each single day, it is not private. I promise you — it is based mostly off our tales and the place we have come from. … We have come from so many various locations that you just guys have by no means seen or would by no means perceive. So simply having the ability to go on the market and play with that chip on our shoulder each single evening, that is simply what we do and that is simply who we’re, and it’s important to settle for that.”

Reese, who led LSU to the 2023 nationwide championship, additionally stated sufficient credit score is not going to her and others for the way they spurred the expansion of the ladies’s recreation.

“I believe so many individuals are watching ladies’s basketball proper now. It began from the nationwide championship recreation [in 2023],” Reese stated of LSU’s victory over Iowa. “I have been coping with this for 2 years now. And understanding that, yeah, unfavorable issues have in all probability been stated about me, however, truthfully, I am going to take that. As a result of look the place ladies’s basketball is.

“Individuals are pulling as much as video games, we have got celebrities coming to video games, sold-out arenas simply due to one single recreation. I am going to take that function. And I do know I am going to go down in historical past. I am going to look again in 20 years and be like, ‘The explanation why we’re watching ladies’s basketball is not only due to one particular person. It is due to me, too.’ And I would like you to understand that.

“It isn’t simply due to one particular person. A number of us have carried out a lot for this recreation. There are such a lot of nice gamers on this league which have deserved this for a very, actually very long time. Fortunately, it is coming now.”