There's a storm raging in the world of the WNBA, with a lot of focus on Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark. Various media figures and WNBA players are pushing back against the extensive media coverage Clark has been receiving. Among them are Chicago Sky players Chennedy Carter and Angel Reese, who have taken a particularly aggressive stance.
The controversy escalated during a recent game when Carter committed a foul against Clark that left fans and commentators stunned. During an off-the-ball moment, Carter roughly shoulder-checked Clark, causing her to fall to the floor. While the incident was initially only called an "away from the ball" foul, many viewed it as a blatant cheap shot. Angel Reese, who has a history of rivalry with Clark dating back to their college days, cheered and hugged Carter at the end of the quarter, further inflaming the situation.
Adding to the oddity, Carter refused to answer questions about the incident during the post-game press conference. However, the WNBA later reviewed the footage and upgraded the foul to a Flagrant-1, acknowledging the severity of the action. The Sky's coach offered a non-apology apology, downplaying the incident, while Carter defended herself as a passionately emotional player, insisting she shouldn't be judged by that single moment.
finding out our teams hotel to pull with a camera as we get off the bus and put it in my teammates face & HARASS her is NASTY WORK. this really is outta control and needs to STOP.
— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) June 5, 2024
The drama didn't end there. In a new twist, several Sky players took to Twitter on Wednesday to complain about what they described as harassment. They alleged that a man with a camera confronted them as they got off the bus for their game in Washington, D.C., asking provocative questions about Caitlin Clark.
According to Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca, the man approached the team with a camera, specifically looking for Carter. The team's security intervened promptly, de-escalating the situation and escorting the man away without involving the police.
This is the harassment that the Chicago Sky were tweeting about last night? pic.twitter.com/gzFzL1chKs
— Jack McGuire (@JackMacCFB) June 6, 2024
Angel Reese was among the players who criticized the man's actions on social media, labeling his behavior as "NASTY WORK" and calling for it to stop. However, the video of the incident, which surfaced later, appeared to tell a different story. Sky player Isabelle Harrison had claimed they "couldn't even step off the bus" until security intervened, but the video footage contradicted this account.
Adding to the confusion, Michaela Onyenwere suggested, without providing evidence, that the video had been edited to exclude the most egregious parts of the man's behavior. This has led to significant skepticism and debate on social media, with many questioning the validity of the harassment narrative put forth by the Sky players.