WNBA upgrades foul on Clark, fines Sky over Reese media violation

The WNBA upgraded a foul committed by Chennedy Carter against Caitlin Clark to a Flagrant 1 after the league reviewed the check that became a talking point of Saturday’s game between the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky. Carter will not receive a suspension or fine for the hit, the league confirmed Sunday. The league also announced it fined the Sky and rookie Angel Reese for failing to make herself available to the media after the game.

Carter’s foul occurred late in the third quarter of Indiana’s win when, after making a basket, Carter knocked down Clark as the Fever rookie awaited an inbounds pass. Carter appeared to say something before slamming her shoulder into Clark, causing her to fall to the ground. Carter was whistled for an away-from-the-play foul, giving Clark her lone free throw attempt of the game, but officials did not upgrade it to a flagrant at the time.

“I wasn’t expecting that,” Clark said after the game. “But it’s just like, ‘Respond, calm down and let your play do the talking.’ It is what it is … Go make the free throw and then execute on offense.” During an ESPN in-game interview, Clark said, “That’s just not a basketball play.”

Carter, who led Chicago with 19 points off the bench, declined to comment about the altercation.

“I ain’t answering no Caitlin Clark questions,” she said. Sky coach Teresa Weatherspoon also cut off questions about the incident.

On social media later, however, Carter commented on a video showing the news conference where she declined to answer questions about Clark, writing, “And that’s that on that cause beside three point shooting what does she bring to the table man.”

According to the league rules, the WNBA may reclassify a flagrant foul or classify any foul not called a flagrant as a flagrant after a post-game review. The league has a points system for tracking when players accumulate enough fouls to warrant a suspension.

The league also has the option to fine or suspend any player who commits a flagrant foul at any time during the regular season, preseason or playoffs, regardless of whether the point levels are reached.

The points system for the regular season is as follows:

• A player at 3 points who commits a Flagrant 2 foul receives an automatic one-game suspension
• A player at 4 or 5 points who commits a Flagrant 1 foul receives an automatic one-game suspension
• A player at 4 or 5 points who commits a Flagrant 2 foul receives an automatic two-game suspension
• A player at 6 or more points who commits a Flagrant 1 or 2 foul receives an automatic two-game suspension

For Carter, this was her first infraction of the season, meaning she did not automatically qualify for a suspension.

Reese’s media rules violation cost her $1,000, and the Sky were hit with a $5,000 fine for failing to ensure players comply with WNBA media policies. Reese had been criticized on social media during the game for celebrating Carter’s contact with Clark while she was on the bench.

The Fever beat the Sky 71-70 on Saturday to secure their first home win of the season. Clark finished with 11 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists.

The Fever (2-8) play the Liberty for the third time on Sunday at 7 p.m. ET. The Sky (3-4) host the Liberty on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET.

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(Photo: Andy Lyons / Getty Images)