Many basketball fans were excited to see a budding rivalry blossom this year between Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese and Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark, but another Sky player is building her own duel with the No. 1 overall pick of 2024.
Chicago’s Chennedy Carter was retroactively assessed a flagrant 1 foul for her hip check on Clark in Sunday’s 71-70 loss.
She refused to address the footage during her post-match press conference, but later made her feelings toward Clark very clear on social media.
In a response on Threads, Carter criticized the rookie’s play:
“Besides the three-point shot, what does she bring to the table, man,” Carter wrote.
In another, she called Reese “my fasho buddy” after the striker appeared to applaud from the bench following the contact:
Carter’s foul immediately became symbolic of two larger narratives that quickly formed around the WNBA’s discourse: older veterans “hate” Clark and the league actually allows these players to take liberties with the rookie by not repressing mistakes.
Carter’s remarks about Clark will certainly help fuel the first storyline.
His attitude, however, is not that exceptional. Whatever the sport, whatever the league, the most experienced players are bound to have an ace on their shoulder when facing younger peers. That’s especially true when a rookie has as much hype as Caitlin Clark.
LeBron James got it from some of his own Cleveland Cavaliers teammates when he entered the NBA in 2003. There is an entire legend built around a handful of NBA stars who “frozen” Michael Jordan when of the 1985 All-Star Game.
Rookies always have to earn their stripes and Clark is no different.
The extent to which this has already exploded is a good example of why the WNBA would also benefit from some interpersonal drama on the court. It’s good when players or teams argue in a way that doesn’t cross a clear line.
The WNBA lacked a true signature rivalry.
Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi were interconnected throughout their careers, but it always felt less like a rivalry and more like a game of one-upmanship between friends. The Los Angeles Sparks and Minnesota Lynx, meanwhile, had a riveting struggle that lasted several years, but the intrigue has since dissipated with both franchises no longer in contention for the title.
It is unlikely that Carter and Clark will develop any sort of lasting antagonism. Sunday’s game at least ensured that the rematch between Chicago and Indiana on June 16 would be a date.
News Source : syndication.bleacherreport.com
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