Chennedy Carter refuses to answer questions after cheap shot to Caitlin Clark in Sky’s loss to Fever

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Late in the third quarter of the Indiana Fever’s 71-70 win over the Chicago Sky on Saturday afternoon, Chennedy Carter knocked down a smooth mid-range jumper. A few seconds later, she put her shoulder into Caitlin Clark and sent the No. 1 overall pick tumbling to the ground.

The two guards had been enjoying a competitive back-and-forth for a few possessions earlier in the frame, but there was no apparent reason for Carter to escalate the situation to such an extent.

Chennedy Carter scores and gives a shoulder to Caitlin Clarkpic.twitter.com/nQxkw1rvhH

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The referees briefly reviewed the incident, but did not upgrade it to a flagrant or technical. They did, however, deem it an away from the play foul because it happened before the ball was inbounded.

After the game, Carter refused to answer questions about what happened.

Chennedy Carter on the sequence with Caitlin Clark in the 3rd quarter: “I ain’t answering no Caitlin Clark questions.”

Full clip: pic.twitter.com/4bRnyXgPjV

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Here’s her full exchange with a 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.”

The interaction was then cut off by Sky head coach Teresa Weatherspoon.

Clark, for her part, called it “not a basketball play” during her in-game interview between the third and fourth quarters, and didn’t have much more to say following the game.

“Yeah, I wasn’t expecting that,” Clark said. “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.”

Clark did, however, expand on her feelings about the overall physicality she’s dealing with to start her career. Earlier in the week, she expressed frustration with what she views as a double standard when it comes to contact from opponents. In the wake of the dust-up with Carter, she gave some insight into how she tries to handle those events during the game.

“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.”

Fever head coach Christie Sides called Carter’s foul “unacceptable” on social media and said “something has to be done.”

Clark finished with 11 points, eight rebounds and six assists as the Fever improved to 2-8 on the season.

HOT NEWS:

CAITLIN CLARK, KATE MARTIN’S POSTGAME INTERACTION WITH IOWA COACH HITS THE INTERNET

On Saturday, former Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball teammates Caitlin Clark and Kate Martin faced off for the first time in the WNBA as the Las Vegas Aces defeated the Indiana Fever by a final score of 99-80.

Clark and Martin shared the court for Iowa for four seasons, enduring many ups and downs as teammates. They won many conference tournaments but also lost two NCAA Women’s College Basketball Championships together.

After the game on Saturday, Clark and Martin were seen with their former Iowa coach Jen Janson. The three were having a long conversation with each other right outside the locker rooms.

Iowa president Barbara Wilson hugs Caitlin Clark, left, and Kate Martin during a celebration of the Iowa women’s basketball team Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.

Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK

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A video of the three Hawkeyes was posted on social media by Vegas Sports Today.

“Caitlin Clark and Kate Martin embrace each other after Fever vs. Aces game. The two had a long conversation.”

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ANGEL REESE HAS A BLUNT MESSAGE FOR EVERYONE ABOUT HER WNBA SALARY

When Angel Reese elected to leave LSU and declare for the WNBA Draft, some fans questioned her decision from a financial perspective.

With the current NIL landscape in college athletics, many were under the impression that Reese would ultimately be taking a pay cut to join the WNBA.

During a recent interview with ESPN’s Michele Steele, Reese made sure to make it clear that that’s not the case.

“I mean, obviously, people thought me leaving college–I would take a huge pay gap and pay drop,” the Chicago Sky rookie said. “I wasn’t getting paid in college, so that check that I do get here is a bonus. I mean, being able to play for what, four to five months, and get $75,000 on top of the other endorsements that I’m doing, I think it’s a plus for me.”

“I mean, I play the game I love, not for the money, I play because I love basketball and genuinely love basketball,” she continued. “And now that I’m a pro and being able to continue to work with these brands long term, I think that’s something people don’t really realize.”

May 25, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5) looks to shoot against the Connecticut Sun during the second half of a WNBA game at Wintrust Arena.

Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Reese was dubbed the “NIL Queen” in college, and she’s furthered that reputation with plenty of additional brand deals at the WNBA level.

Reese has countless endorsement deals with major companies like Reebok, PlayStation, Tampax, Coach, Beats by Dre and many more. Her four-year rookie deal with the Sky is worth $343,000.

Angel Reese’s Postgame Message for Alyssa Thomas is Turning Heads

“I love that the brands want to work with us and continue to want to work with us,” Reese said. “… I want people to know the deals don’t stop in college when you go to the pros, they continue, and I feel like they’ve even grown even more.”