During the weekend, the highly anticipated matchup between the Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky took place. The game was an epic battle between two college rivals, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. This game marked their first face-off in the WNBA.

 

During the game, in a controversial play, Sky guard Chennedy Carter took a deliberate and forceful action against Clark, knocking her down during an in-bounds play. This action, which seemed to be motivated by personal reasons rather than being a legitimate basketball play, only resulted in a personal foul being assessed. Many observers believe that the severity of the action warranted a flagrant foul instead.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) talks to Seattle Storm guard Victoria Vivians (35) following being run into after making a three-pointer, Thursday, May 30, 2024, during the WNBA game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.  Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) talks to Seattle Storm guard Victoria Vivians (35) following being run into after making a three-pointer, Thursday, May 30, 2024, during the WNBA game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Joe Timmerman/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

A video of this hard foul was posted online.

“What are these players doing to Caitlin Clark?”

At the end of the third quarter, Clark interviewed with ESPN and replied in six words to the dirty foul, saying, “That’s just not a basketball play.”

 

“That’s just not a basketball play. But, you gotta play through it. That’s what basketball’s about at this level,” Clark said.

Clark has notably been receiving physical play on her since entering the WNBA, but this play was unacceptable.