Carter has no regrets and Sky ready to move on from controversial foul
The Sky didn't say much after Saturday's game in Indiana about the foul against Caitlin Clark that ignited a social media frenzy.
Following Monday's practice in Deerfield, Chennedy Carter and Angel Reese didn’t hold back in front of cameras and recorders.
“I'm a person, when something happens, I need to time to get my thoughts together,” Carter said. “Heat of the moment answering is not probably the best answer. So for those who wanted a heat of the moment answer, I'm actually glad I didn't give you one. I'm glad you guys came today and actually asked me and asked how I felt and I'm letting you know.”
If anyone needs a reminder, Carter knocked Clark to the floor as she waited for an inbound pass with 15 seconds left in the third quarter. An off-the-ball foul was called, which meant one free throw and possession. Clark hit the free throw, the Fever didn't score before the quarter ended and the Sky eventually lost 71-70.
A day later, the WNBA upgraded the foul to a flagrant one and fined Reese, and the Sky, for not being available for a postgame interview. Reese said her family was at the game, which was a reason she didn't go to the interview room.
The play itself doesn't seem like much of an issue, even though the Sky felt the need to release a statement from coach Teresa Weatherspoon on Monday morning, saying the foul was “not appropriate.”
“We’re not trying to harm anyone,” Weatherspoon said in person Monday. “That’s not the case and we’re not going to be that way.”
These type of fouls happen all the time in the NBA. Sometimes players get mad, sometimes they go on each others' podcasts and laugh about it. The clip stays in heavy rotation for a couple hours, then the world moves on.
“We've been able to take a lot of hits in the last 24, 48 hours,” Carter said. “I'm over here smiling, I'm not complaining. At the end of the day, it's all love outside of basketball. When we're in those four lines, it's smoke. After, it's all love.”
Carter is new to the Sky this season and has been a bright spot, scoring a team-high 19 points Saturday. A star in college at Texas A&M, Carter was the No. 4 pick of the 2020 WNBA Draft by Atlanta and had a good rookie season, then didn't even play in the league last summer.
“I think I got hit in the head the play before,” Carter said. “It was just one of those things that was in the heat of the moment. I don't know Caitlin, I don't know her from anywhere. But at the end of the day, this is hoops, it's competitive and this is basketball.
“You're playing against someone like me, I classify myself as a dog. So if you're going to throw a punch, then I'm going to compete with you. I'm going to play at the level you're giving. That's just the kind of player I am.”
Carter didn't directly accuse Clark of throwing a punch. There was some hard contact between the two on the previous possession as the teams fought for a rebound under the Fever basket.
“I don't have any regrets with anything,” Carter said. “I'm going to compete and play 100% hard, no matter who it is or who we're playing.”
Carter did most of the talking, but Reese stepped in with some bigger-picture analysis a few times. However it happened, people were talking about a Sky-Fever game over the weekend, which is a positive development for the sport and the team.
“You've got to realize, all of us have a story,” Reese said. “Chennedy has been out of the league. I've had a story behind me. When we go out there and play super hard, compete every single day, it's not personal. I promise you, it's based off our stories and where we've come from.
“We've come from so many different places that you guys have never seen or would never understand. So to go out there and play with that chip on our shoulder every single night, that's just what we do and that's just who we are. And you have to accept that.”
When she jumped off the bench and clapped her hands after the foul, Reese said she was just “having her teammates’ back.”
When it comes to Clark's popularity, there's a simple reason to explain it. Much like Steph Curry in the men's game, she drew attention for shooting skills people hadn't seen before. It was a compelling story and fun to watch. But some have been quick to add additional context, and the players know it.
“It has become a big national story,” Carter said. “We've had things thrown into hoops like racism and just different things thrown to players that should have even been brought up. This is a game I love, this is a game I'm passionate about.”
Reese and Clark will forever be connected from facing off in the heavily-watched 2022 title game between LSU and Iowa. Reese doesn't always feel the love, but she's also helped drive the popularity of women's basketball.
“It all started from the national championship game and I've been dealing with this for two years now,” Reese said. “Understanding, yeah, negative things have probably been said about me. But honestly, I'll take that, because look at where women's basketball is. People are pulling up to games, we've got celebrities coming to games, sold-out arenas.
“I'll take that role. I'll take the bad guy role and I'll continue to take that on, and be that for my teammates.”
Twitter: @McGrawDHSports