One of the primary storylines from the recent Indiana Fever-Chicago Sky game, which saw Indiana win 71-70, was the hit that Caitlin Clark took from Chennedy Carter. Many people around the sports world have weighed in on the incident, as there was a previous narrative building around the WNBA that Clark was disliked by some of her peers. For the most part, players and coaches around the league have shut down the narrative and have expressed positive words towards the Fever rookie. The incident that occurred during the Fever-Sky game gave the narrative momentum again, which is something that former WNBA star Chiney Ogwumike does not believe is justified.
“For those who may be new to this, the WNBA has always been a physical league,” Ogwumike said on SportsCenter, via ClutchPoints. “Full of competitive fire and trash talk. And on the full sequence of that play, Caitlin was talking. And in this league, no one backs down to trash talk. Now I have played with Chennedy Carter and her choice to retaliate on a non-basketball play was literally foul and something that she has struggled with her entire career. That was not okay.”
Many people on social media have jumped to the conclusion that Clark is disliked around the WNBA following the incident. In all fairness, though, one individual's actions don't represent the entire league, which is also a point that Ogwumike made.
“But one player's approach is not indicative of an entire league,” Ogwumike continued. “All rookies, especially number one picks… have been tested mentally, physically, emotionally.”
How does WNBA world truly feel about Caitlin Clark?
Clark's impact has been immense regardless of how people feel about her. Again, there has been no shortage of support for Clark. Anytime a phenom enters the league at a young age there is destined to be players who want to challenge them, though. We have seen it in the NBA and other professional sports leagues as well.
“Plays like this happen in sports,” Ogwumike said. “But now it's being used to further agendas that don't serve the game. So when it comes to women's athletes there's this expectation that players in the heat of the game should constantly stop what they're doing and be appreciative of Caitlin. They should bow down instead of being the competitors that they are. These women are elite basketball players who are competitors who show up every night before the eyes were there on the game.”
Ogwumike later explained that she appreciates what Clark has brought to the game, even stating that she's Caitlin Clark's “biggest fan.”
It's difficult to refute Ogwumike's point. However, Carter herself did not help the narrative growing around the situation.
“Besides three-point shooting what does she bring to the table man,” Carter said of Clark.
Calling Clark's game into question after knocking her to the floor probably isn't the best way to shut down the narrative. Nevertheless, Carter's actions and comments are not indicative of how every player and coach in the WNBA feel.
“But that narrative, that actually does a disservice to her,” Ogwumike explained later. “Because the ones who grind through that type of grind become beasts. This is not hate. This is hoops. Like any other sport that is professional at the highest level. And I hope people truly get to understand that.”
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