Chicago Sky head coach Teresa Weatherspoon released a statement on Monday regarding the hard foul committed by Sky guard Chennedy Carter on Caitlin Clark during Saturday’s 71-70 loss to the Indiana Fever. Initially ruled as an away-from-the-play foul, it was later upgraded to a Flagrant 1 after a league review.
In her statement, Weatherspoon emphasized physical play, intensity, and competitive spirit as hallmarks of Chicago Sky basketball. She acknowledged that Carter got caught up in the heat of the moment in the pursuit of winning the game. Weatherspoon and Carter have discussed the incident and its inappropriateness, with the understanding that there are better ways to handle such situations on the court.
Weatherspoon emphasized that the team will grow together and work towards displaying strong leadership and setting a positive example for competitors, fans, and partners. The incident involving Clark is not entirely new, as Indiana Fever head coach Christie Sides noted a similar situation with Aliyah Boston last year. Sides mentioned that rookies often face challenges from veterans as they try to establish themselves in the league.
Weatherspoon, a pioneer in the WNBA, understands the dynamics between rookies and veterans. While Clark may be attracting new attention to the sport, the league will not back down. It is now up to Clark and the Fever to respond accordingly and navigate through these early challenges in her career.
The Chicago Sky head coach also acknowledged that physical play is an important aspect of basketball but emphasized that it must be done within acceptable limits. She stated that players must learn how to handle themselves appropriately when things get heated on
