The off-the-ball shove by WNBA star Chennedy Carter on “golden girl” Caitlin Clark, which sent Clark reeling to the floor, has ignited a full-scale war of words that has lasted more than two days on social media.
The episode happened on Saturday afternoon, June 1, during Carter’s Chicago Sky versus Clark’s Indiana Fever. The Fever won the hotly contested game in a last-second nailbiter, 71-70.
Carter, angry that Clark elbowed her in her face on an earlier play, got her revenge by spitting invectives at Clark during an out-of-bounds play and then shoved the stationary Clark hard enough to make her fall to the court. Upon further review by the league, Carter was initially hit with a foul call that has been upgraded to a flagrant foul 1.
The WNBA confirmed that Chennedy Carter’s foul on Caitlin Clark from yesterday’s game has been upgraded to a Flagrant 1, per @alexaphilippou.pic.twitter.com/o7QzaFRkL5
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) June 2, 2024
A multitude of Clark fans immediately blitzed Carter with a barrage of insults and accusations that she is jealous and racist towards Clark — a White woman who became the face of the league before she even played a single game in the WNBA.
Following Saturday’s game, Carter refused to answer questions about Clark. But on her social media, Carter asked rhetorically what Clark had brought to the game besides “3-pointers.”
As far as the hard bump on Clark, Carter tweeted that either a player can figuratively take the heat or get out of the kitchen
“We grown asf,” she railed against her critics on X. “And y’all talking about enforcer 😂 man gtfoh. Hoop or shut up ….,” Carter tweeted Sunday.
Ex-NBA and current players defend Caitlin Clark and blast her alleged haters
A number of preeminent players, both retired and current stars, have raced to social media to defend Clark and chastise the WNBA players for their alleged “jealousy” and “resentment” for Clark’s special treatment. Among the most recognized Clark defenders have been LeBron James and Charles Barkley, who implore the players to flush the “hate” and “jealousy” from their hearts.
Matt Barnes, a former NBA enforcer who defended the likes of Kobe Bryant and Blake Griffin during his career, lambasted Clark’s teammates on the Fever for not adequately defending her when she was frequently fouled hard.
Another former NBA player, Austin Rivers, admonishes the WNBA players who are too jealous to see the bigger picture. He believes the league should be happy that Clark has ignited a massive windfall of revenue, attention, and game attendance from the influx of new fans.
A similar sentiment was echoed by Stephen A. Smith on ESPN’s flagship show “First Take.”
21 Responses
Interesting.
Clark is all drama .every time someone touches her she falls to the floor .do you people not see the big picture really.she is a trash talker that’s why she has 3 techniquel already she has a Big mouth she is disrespectful that’s why she getting her ass kicked. She cry’s about everything she 22 and still crying to the Referee s grow the hell up Clark. If you talk shit you’re going to get an ass kicking. Your not in college anymore more grow up stop cussing at the referees people don’t seem to see that or want to talk about your big mouth.
Settle down. I’d like to see you take that elbow and still be standing. Have you watched Clark played an entire game? If you had you would see that she plays an entire game. If she’s not scoring, she’s assisting. And a role model. Chennedy, not so much.
Chennedy Carter did not make a basketball play and has been justly rebuked. Caitlin is highly talented and a rookie, and ALL rookies in EVERY sport get tested their rookie years. It’s been happening for decades.
I’m what needs to happen is they need to send in a inforcer when it happens again and give her the same treatment I bet her attitude will change after a few times .
Agreed. Every title-contending team needs a “goon” or enforcer to protect the star talent. They definitely have goons in hockey and in football. And they have them on some teams in the NBA, most prominently Draymond Green for the dynastic Warriors — and in the past with the Bad Boy Pistons or Matt Barnes who protected Kobe.
I see what kind of person you are. Yep. SMH.
What’s there to respect there are not one of these thugs with an IQ over ten. They are jealous and hateful towards her for what. They cannot stand the fact that she is a super star so they take to their classless low class thuggery. Caitlin Clark is a superstar whether you idiots like it or not.
lol nice post, your glaring lack of IQ is showing.
She’s overrated. People actually thought she would come in and dominate. Nope it takes time. I don’t think people are hating on her. It’s the fact that people and the media act as if she created wnba or she’s the goat, not realizing tht there are so many players that cake before her who had to bust their ass and she comes in and all of a sudden they want to fly private, salary is a topic all because her. I would have a chip on my shoulder too. Plus she plays just as dirty as the next, she runs her mouth, cries entirely too much and def flops.
It’s all jealousy. Period. Clark isn’t over hyped. She has talent but there are other players that will see to it her first year will be hard. It’s called hazing and it’s childish and unbecoming. But half these players don’t know how to be a lady and a professional player at the same time.
PJ, are you new to sports? Rookie hazing on star rookies has been going on for decades in sports. So why would it stop now? I know you’ve seen or read about what the “Bad Boy” Pistsons did to Michael Jordan. Larry Bird said he was tested on his first day of practice as a rookie. But now you want it to change because … it’s Caitlin Clark??? All superstar rookies get tested and not all of it’s jealousy.
Agreed!! Well said….. the players are reactive, not pro active. No player coming off the bench, having the game of her life, in a tight game, would risk it all by suddenly thinking ” today is a good day to go shove this player to the ground, which could get me tossed from the game on public television with a sold out crowd? “You can bet CC said something that triggered it.
Your lacking in the brain department!
The league is failing fans and Clark in a number of ways . Excessive scheduling of games compared to other teams, poor referees who consistently overlook fouling against Clark , and envious less talented players trashing Clark.
Where is the character in this league’s leadership ?
The league will be shut down for one month for the Olympics. That is why the have scheduled so many games. The players will get to rest and have a normal schedule when they get back.
Welp, Kevin. There are many players who are not jealous of Caitlin, simply because they are BETTER than her. And they blew Caitlin and the Fever out the building. Alyssa Thomas is better. Breanna Stewart is better. Diana Taurasi is better. A’Ja Wilson is better. No person is jealous of someone they are better than.
What’s happening to Clark is not about competition. There are players trying to hurt her. If she were black they might rough her up a bit but would not be trying to put her out of the game. No! I’m not a racist – but please show me film of white players trying to hurt her enough to put her out of the game. Fine Angel Reese for standing and applauding the foul.
Say would you want that was a cheap shot. Ladies are kids look up to you. Why can you not be better role models?
Well said, “BRAVO”!
Everyone take a deep sigh of relief….. there’s too much talk about CC every move she makes.. Let’s be clear we all know why at this time there is so much attention to CC, she is an incredible shooter and white period.. $$$$ . Called GOAT and not 1 championship? Life ain’t fair and although CC has jealousy from some WNBA players….. what if CC was black? Be honest. What would be the talk? Yea, do you really think we’d be talking about this? Lot’s of folks think they are not racist or American sports isn’t racist either… hmmm….
All rookies are tested in a variety of ways, especially rookies with CC’s resume. Everyone is not a hater, let’s respect those who have paved the way with MVP’s and Championships not getting the same treatment or $$$… I would be jealous too but also thankful for the benefits that are now becoming available the WNBA and fans needed a reason and CC was the ticket! Ya’ll it’s bigger than the WNBA and Catlin Clark – some see it, some don’t and some just don’t care…. which one are you??