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Caitlin Clark has been in the WNBA for just a few weeks, and things have already been intense. Clark has been good so far for the Indiana Fever and she is the heavy favorite to win rookie of the year, but the style of play toward her has been one of the biggest talking points since the season started. Players have been aggressive towards Clark, and sometimes that's necessary because of how good Clark is. However, a lot of people think that a foul on her on Saturday by Chennedy Carter was crossing the line.
“I rarely come here to talk officiating, but this is the type of thing [Caitlin] Clark has faced a lot in the early going, albeit not this blatant,” Pat Boylan said in a tweet. “There’s nothing ‘basketball play' about this and meets numerous flagrancy criteria.”
I rarely come here to talk officiating, but this is the type of thing Clark has faced a lot in the early going, albeit not this blatant.
There’s nothing “basketball play” about this and meets numerous flagrancy criteria. https://t.co/YJLgxbqX6F
— Pat Boylan Fever/Pacers (@PatBoylanPacers) June 1, 2024
The whole basketball world has been reacting to that play, and most people aren't happy about it. The ball was not in play as the Fever were about to inbound, and Chennedy Carter knocked Caitlin Clark over.
Fever coach Christie Sides wasn't happy about the play. She isn't happy with how Caitlin Clark is being treated, and she wants the WNBA to act accordingly.
“This is unacceptable @wnba,” Christie Sides said in a tweet. “When will the consistent complaints be heard?!? Something has to be done!”
This isn't the only instance where Clark has dealt with a lot of physicality, but that play has certainly received the most attention. A lot of people think that Carter should have received more of a punishment in the game than just an away-from-play foul.
Caitlin Clark reacts to the foul
Reporters were obviously asking both Chennedy Carter and Caitlin Clark about the play after the game. Carter didn't want to talk about it. Here is her exchange with ClutchPoints Fever reporter Matthew Byrne:
Byrne: “On the play before bumping in with Caitlin, it seemed like she turned to you a little bit. After —
Carter: “I ain't answering no Caitlin Clark questions.”
Byrne: “Did she say anything to you?”
Carter: “I don't know what she said.”
Byrne: “What did you say to her?”
Carter: “I didn't say anything.”
Clark did answer questions about the play. She was surprised by it, but she shook it off. She doesn't want to get involved in any extra curricular stuff, she just wants to play ball.
“Yeah, I wasn't expecting that,” Clark said, according to an article from CBS Sports. “But it's just like, respond, calm down and let your play do the talking. It is what it is. It's a physical game, go make the free throw and then execute on offense. Feel like that's what we did.”
At this point, Caitlin Clark is expecting every game to be physical. She's doing her best to not let it get to her head, and she wants her response to it to be the way she plays.
“It is what it is,” Clark said. “I feel like I'm just at the point where you accept it and don't retaliate. Just let them hit you, be what it is, don't let it get in your head and know it's coming. I think at this point, I know I'm gonna take a couple hard shots a game, and that's what it is. I'm trying not to let it bother me, and just stay in the game and stay in what's important. Because usually it's the second person that gets caught if you retaliate or something. I'm just trying to stay in the game and focus on my team and focus on what's important.”
The Fever did get the win on Saturday against Chennedy Carter and the Chicago Sky. They won 71-70, and they are now 2-8 on the season.
