On Saturday, Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter drilled a third-quarter jumper against the Indiana Fever and then proceeded to shoulder check guard Caitlin Clark to the floor before the ball was in-bounded:
After the Fever’s 71-70 win, Clark was asked about the play (h/t James Boyd of The Athletic):
Carter was called for an away from-the-play foul (a personal foul). Clark was granted (and made) a free throw, which ended up being a crucial bucket en route to the Fever’s one-point victory.
Carter did not comment on the matter when asked about it postgame.
Clark entered the WNBA as the two-time consensus collegiate player of the year after breaking a litany of records during her time at Iowa. She’s spoken about the physicality of the pro game on numerous occasions, perhaps most notably last Wednesday.
“I think everybody is physical with me, they get away with things that probably other people don’t get away with,” Clark said per Chloe Peterson of the Indianapolis Star. “It’s tough, but that’s just the fact of the matter. This is a very physical game, and you’re going to get pressure, this is professional basketball. It is what it is, honestly.”
Clark echoed the “it is what it is” tune on Saturday, but she ultimately emerged victorious as the Fever earned their first home victory of the season.