INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Fever matinee matchup versus the Chicago Sky was all about the long-awaited showdown between Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso. All three rookies were top-seven picks in the draft. Clark and Cardoso played in the 2024 NCAA national title in April. Clark and Reese had the “You can’t see me” incident in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. However, this game will be remembered for the confrontation between Caitlin Clark and Chennedy Carter. 

By the end of the Fever’s 71-70 win Saturday, the attention was mostly pinned to Clark and Sky fourth-year guard. It all took place late in the third quarter. With about 16 seconds to go, Carter shoulder-checked Clark on an inbound, causing her to fall. A technical or flagrant foul was not called by the refs. Rather, it was ruled as common and Clark shot one free throw. 

Carter, the 2020 first-round pick, did this after scoring. It looked like she jawed at Clark before the check. 

“I ain’t answering no Caitlin Clark questions,” Carter said afterward. “I didn’t say anything.”

“I wasn’t expecting it,” Clark later said. “But I think it’s just like, just respond, come down, let your play do the talking. It’s a physical game, go make the free throw and then execute on offense. I feel like that’s kind of what we did. But you know, it is what it is I guess, I don’t know.”

More context about the Caitlin Clark-Chennedy Carter incident

The play before seemed to start the exchange. Fever teammate Aliyah Boston grabbed three offensive rebounds in the span of five seconds. And Boston snatched the last rebound out of Carter’s hands and scored to put the Fever up by six points. Caitlin Clark snapped her head at Carter instantly after the basket and it looked as though she said something, but that’s unconfirmed. 

At the beginning of the play, Carter stripped the ball away from Clark before it got to Boston. 

“I don’t know what she said,” Carter said. 

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Fever get first home win vs. Sky

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) drives to the basket against the Chicago Sky during a game at Grainbridge Fieldhouse.
Michelle Pemberton/INDIANAPOLIS STAR-USA TODAY Sports

Regardless, the game continued into the fourth quarter and came down to the wire. Cardoso’s minutes were restricted because it was her debut after an injury in preseason. Still, she made an impact whenever she was on the floor through 18 minutes and shot 5-for-7 with 11 points. A fatal flaw though was fouling former South Carolina teammate –– Boston –– with 1:19 left to go. 

Boston made the and-1 basket and the free throw to put the Fever up 71-67. Chicago’s Marina Mabrey could’ve tied the game with six seconds left but missed one of her free throws. From there, Erica Wheeler and Clark helped run out the clock for the Fever’s first win at home this season. Fellow Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell was instrumental in impactful scoring runs as well. 

Reese scored eight points and was an inefficient 2-for-9 from the floor, but also brought in 13 rebounds. Carter eventually led the Sky with 19 points and heated up in the second half with 13 on six made baskets. Mitchell led the Fever with 18 points, forward NaLyssa Smith was behind with 17 and then came Clark with 11 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. She hit two threes. 

Saturday also marked the beginning of the Commissioner's Cup. The Fever went 2-8 and were last in the Eastern Conference last season in the Cup. But this season, they’ve begun 1-0 and snapped their three-game skid in the process. The Fever next play at the New York Liberty on Sunday in their second back-to-back scheduling. They’ve lost to the Fever twice so far this year. 

But for now, the Fever got their first home win with some dramatic flair.