Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever achieved their first home victory of the season this past Saturday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The game captured widespread attention due to a hard foul on Clark, the top pick in this year’s WNBA draft. The Fever narrowly defeated the Chicago Sky 71-70, despite a strong fourth-quarter rally from the Sky. Chennedy Carter of Chicago, who scored a game-high 19 points, became a focal point of controversy for a physical encounter with Clark before the basketball was even in play, resulting in an away-from-the-ball common foul that was later upgraded to a flagrant 1 by the league.
I cannot express to you all how much I do not care about the WNBA.
However, if the roles were reversed, and Caitlin Clark was black, and her bullies were white, every single woke sports outlet and journo would be losing their minds and calling it racism.
That’s all I’m sayin’. pic.twitter.com/XVibYGy0tH
— Clandestine (@WarClandestine) June 1, 2024
Fever coach Christie Sides expressed her disapproval strongly on social media and in a postgame news conference, emphasizing the need for the WNBA to address consistent complaints about the rough treatment Clark has been receiving on the court. She revealed that the team has routinely sent footage to the league for review concerning fouls against Clark and would continue to do so.
The league’s decision to not penalize Carter further after the game has sparked discussions. Carter herself chose not to comment on the incident postgame, while Clark took a more composed approach, expressing her acceptance of the physical play without retaliation.
Since The View made their ‘white privilege’ comments about Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese has turned up the bullying.
You can see her teammate lipping “you b*tch” before knocking Clark to the ground.
Why aren’t they being ejected for this blatant fouling? Who’s really privileged? pic.twitter.com/yeK1q6vUka
— TaraBull (@TaraBull808) June 1, 2024
Additionally, the WNBA fined Angel Reese $1,000 for not being available to media post-game, and imposed a $5,000 fine on the Chicago Sky for not ensuring compliance with league media policies. Coach Sides praised Clark for her resilience amid the ongoing physical challenges she faces in the games.
The match also marked both teams’ first participation in the Commissioner’s Cup, an in-season tournament. Despite shooting struggles, with Indiana making only 39.1% from the field, they maintained a strong defensive performance, which was crucial in holding off Chicago, who shot 40.6% and was only 2-for-12 from beyond the arc.
The game remained close, with the Fever managing to maintain a lead for the majority of the time, including a crucial moment when Aliyah Boston’s and-one play proved pivotal. The Fever’s defensive tenacity was highlighted as a key factor in their victory by Clark, who also celebrated her personal milestone of becoming the first WNBA rookie to achieve 150 points, 50 rebounds, and 50 assists in her first 10 games.
Chicago Sky player Chennedy Carter refuses to answer questions about pushing down Caitlin Clark to the ground with a cheap shot.
This incident needs to be addressed by the WNBA #Accountability pic.twitter.com/vdoIJHdfTu
— April Color (@ColorApril) June 2, 2024
Kamilla Cardoso, another notable rookie for Chicago, made her WNBA debut in this game, contributing 11 points and six rebounds. The match featured not just the rivalry between Clark and Reese, reminiscent of their college days at Iowa and LSU, but also a reunion for Cardoso with former college teammate Boston.
After a grueling schedule of 10 games in 19 days, the Fever looked ahead to their next challenge against New York. Despite the fatigue, Coach Sides remained optimistic, commending her team’s persistent effort and readiness to face any upcoming challenges.
Major Points
- Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever secured their first home victory of the season against the Chicago Sky, with a close score of 71-70.
- The game featured a contentious moment when Chennedy Carter of the Sky committed a hard foul against Clark, which was later upgraded to a flagrant 1 by the WNBA.
- Fever coach Christie Sides criticized the physical play against Clark and indicated the team would continue to submit plays for review to the WNBA.
- The WNBA imposed fines related to post-game media policy violations, fining Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky.
- The match also marked the teams’ first game in the Commissioner’s Cup, showcasing a strong defensive effort by the Fever and notable performances by rookies on both teams.
Lap Fu Ip – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
