The WNBA is finally getting eyeballs, and what we see is a bunch of nasty women brutalizing Caitlin Clark because this is what predictably happens concerning women in the workforce. Whether it be on the court or in corporate America, it’s women bullying other women that breeds actual toxicity. Clark was the first overall pick. She’s starting to play better on a very bad and rebuilding Indiana Fever team. She’s doing her job, but the rest of the league seems to have a bounty on her.
Clark won’t break and probably will soak up the intense scrutiny surrounding her impact on the sport, but Saturday’s game against the Chicago Sky bred new controversy. Clark got body-checked hard by Sky guard Chennedy Carter, who could be seen mouthing “bitch” before laying into her. The situation was compounded by Carter getting a high-five from teammate Angel Reese, Clark’s college rival, who supposedly has no beef with the former Iowa Hawkeye.
Chennedy Carter clearly yelled “You bitch” at Caitlin Clark before throwing a flagrant foul. Dear gosh these #WNBA veterans remain bitter at the reason why they will all get paid more and get private planes this season. pic.twitter.com/Z4SHt6cYn6
— Caitlin Oishi (@caitlinerin) June 1, 2024
I cannot express to you all how much I do not care about the WNBA.
— Clandestine (@WarClandestine) June 1, 2024
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
Angel Reese is classless. Her reaction to her teammate shoulder checking Caitlin Clark to the ground… ‘me and and Caitlin Clark do not hate each other’
— sj.💎 (@shawnamj_) June 1, 2024
Yeah right. pic.twitter.com/wHAneeBUus
Carter was then nasty at the post-game presser, refusing to answer questions about Clark. Reese refused to speak to the media, which led to a $1,000 fine. That alone is ridiculous. This is the WNBA—answer the damn questions. It’s not hard, and it’s part of our job. The drama eventually led to Chicago Sky head coach Teresa Weatherspoon releasing a statement calling Carter’s foul inappropriate (via ESPN):
This jealous mean girl STILL doesn’t get it. https://t.co/0gpdbyF3pt
— Danielle McCartan from WFAN (@CoachMcCartan) June 3, 2024
Angel Reese is a fantastic Basketball player but let’s be real. 99% of people wouldn’t know who she was if it wasn’t for her rivalry with Caitlin Clark. https://t.co/MWU9dgPtd3
— Monte (@MONTECRI5TO) June 3, 2024
"Physical play, intensity, and a competitive spirit are hallmarks of Chicago Sky basketball," Weatherspoon said in a statement released Monday. "Chennedy got caught up in the heat of the moment in an effort to win the game.
"She and I have discussed what happened and that it was not appropriate, nor is it what we do or who we are. Chennedy understands that there are better ways to handle situations on the court, and she will learn from this, as we all will."
"I'm seeing a lot of things -- players, fans not understanding who I am as a player," Carter said. "You have to understand me as a person, too. And don't just look at one tape and form an opinion about me. I'm truly a passionate person about the game, and I'm genuine. You can ask all my teammates, they've gotten to know me. They know the real Chennedy Carter. So I'm just saying, don't form an opinion off of one little clip. And you didn't even see the whole game and/or the play that led to that."
During the third quarter of a physical back-and-forth game won 71-70 by the Fever in Indianapolis, Carter shoulder-checked Clark from behind and knocked her down before the basketball was inbounded.
Hating the only player in thirty years to make people care about your league is next level dumb for WNBA players. Honest question has there been a rookie hated like this in men’s sports? I can’t think of one in my life. https://t.co/77f5CizCRa
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) June 1, 2024
Somebody tell this racist all these players are superstars and white and nobody cared till Caitlin Clark. It's the way she plays.
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) May 23, 2024
Dianna Turassi
Paige Buckets
Cameron Brink
Sue Bird
Ella Del Donne
Breanna Stewart
Sabrina Ionescu
Kelsey Plum https://t.co/uP0I7LjBw3
A lot of jealousy is going around, and it’s getting tiring. Women basketball players have whined for years that they don’t get their attention. It’s here, ladies, and you’re about to blow it. And, of course, there’s a racial component to this that’s nasty as well. If Clark were black and being assaulted on the court by a bunch of white players, it would be more of a story. It is getting media attention, but half of it is begrudgingly so. The usual lefty writers, who can’t stand that the WNBA is getting more popular because a white, non-lesbian is the marquee player, will pen the usual thought pieces about how Clark's rise is white privilege reloaded. We’ve seen that already, but these antics are ridiculous. Even Charles Barkley had to call out these whiny, jealous women in the league. LeBron James also said he’s rooting for Caitlin.
"You woman out there, y'all petty, man... Y'all should be thanking [Caitlin Clark] for getting y'all a*s private charters. All the money and visibility she's bringing to the WNBA."
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 23, 2024
Charles Barkley says WNBA players need to give Caitlin her flowers 💐pic.twitter.com/l959GWr1JR
Pat McAfee referred to Clark as a [kick-ass] “white bitch,” which drew some backlash. It wasn’t to disparage or attack her—it was in defense of Clark—but he also apologized later for his poor choice of words. Everyone simmer down.
Caitlin Clark is a superstar.#PMSLive https://t.co/nrmn1fC8IM pic.twitter.com/oWlm2F39Ne
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 3, 2024
Pat McAfee calls out people who say Cailin Clark is only popular because she's white "There's one white b-tch from the Indiana team who is a superstar" pic.twitter.com/FOx0SZx9JB
— Gifdsports (@gifdsports) June 3, 2024
I shouldn’t have used “white bitch” as a descriptor of Caitlin Clark. No matter the context.. even if we’re talking about race being a reason for some of the stuff happening.. I have way too much respect for her and women to put that into the universe.
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 3, 2024
My intentions when saying… pic.twitter.com/F6OHB4gvYh
Even 'Around the Horn' got pretty contentious discussing Caitlin Clark today on ESPN.
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 3, 2024
First, Courtney Cronin and Clinton Yates take aim at the narrow discussion of "Clark vs the rest of the WNBA": pic.twitter.com/IXqZCrDkYv
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