Cameron Brink, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. Credits: USA TODAY Sports
Are WNBA athletes roughing up Caitlin Clark deliberately?
Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter’s latest shoulder shove on Fever’s Clark has outraged many hoops fans and sports media alike, who are accusing other athletes of showcasing jealousy.
On ESPN’s Get Up, Monica McNutt broke down Carter’s shove and admitted that it stains the image of the league.
She also argued that the Sky guard was retaliating for an advertent elbow on her by Clark just a few plays ago.
McNutt stated that Carter is known for having an edgy attitude on the floor and the Fever guard should have known better before provoking her,
“Alright, Chennedy Carter, not a good look. Couple of plays prior, there is an elbow there, deliberate by Caitlin Clark… If anybody had done that, Chennedy Carter is likely to respond that way and that is a journey that she continues to be on.”
The 34-year-old emphasized that until the Fever guard adds strength to her play, she would keep receiving ruthless contact
. The ESPN analyst also observed that Clark’s experience of suffering rookie hazing isn’t unique and the elite names of the 2024 draft class are facing similar treatment.
She brought out the examples of her draft rivals Angel Reese and Cameron Brink who have had their fair share of ‘Welcome to the WNBA‘ moments,
“We could roll off years of clips of rookies of the WNBA having to hit their rookie curve. Her own classmate in Angel Reese had a collision with Alyssa Thomas who is one of the most physical players in the game of basketball…Cameron Brink has talked about Tina Charles, cuttin’ her up and outperforming her as an established veteran in this league.”
McNutt downplayed the notion that the league should not go out of its way to shield its face. Clark needs to soak it up and work on her body to get ready for such events, as per her.
However, these comments would not satisfy WNBA critics, who are calling for harsher punishments to deal with the animosity towards the All-time NCAA leading scorer. Did Cheneddy Carter suffer severe repercussions for shoulder-shoving Clark?
The WNBA takes action
During the game, Carter’s actions fell under the ambit of a personal foul. Upon revision, the league upgraded it to a Flagrant Foul Type 1. Thus, the livewire guard did face some punishment but that won’t be able to deter her much.
During the post-game conference, she refused to talk about her opponent, and then later on X, she mocked Clark for being a one-dimensional long-range spot-up shooter.
Meanwhile, Clark’s perpetual rival Angel Reese was fined as she skipped her media duties after the game. Perhaps, akin to her teammate, she also didn’t want to talk about her college-to-pro rival.
Additionally, after defeating the NBA Finalists New York Liberty, Reese took a shot at Clark for underperforming despite getting charter flight rights before anyone else.
While this form of treatment can surely be labeled as abhorrent, this is a part and parcel of the WNBA.
The OG fans understand the physical nature of the league and have often questioned the women hoops’ knowledge of fans in the post-Caitlin Clark era.
Thus, the league is under dual pressure in this situation and may rethink its strategies around the league’s talisman.
News
LeBron James Dropped A Very Interesting Comparison Between Himself And Caitlin Clark That Actually Makes A Ton Of Sense
LeBron James and Caitlin Clark (Photos via Getty Images) LeBron James understands firsthand the challenges that come with being a top-tier athlete facing racism and scrutiny. His own journey from a challenging background to becoming the No. 1 overall NBA draft…
“So Caitlin Clark is your real momma?” – WNBA fans react to Angel Reese referring to Teresa Weatherspoon as ‘second momma’
WNBA fans react to Angel Reese referring to Teresa Weatherspoon as ‘second momma’ Angel Reese’s social media posts usually draw plenty of comments from fans whenever she shows up online. That was the case on Monday when Reese raved about…
Angel Reese explodes with jealousy over the attention Caitlin Clark has received in the WNBA
Angel Reese wants credit for the growth of the league Reese is fed up with all the Caitlin Clark attentionLAPRESSE In a recent on-court incident involving her teammate Chennedy Carter and rival Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese thrust herself into the spotlight, sparking controversy and…
VIDEO: NBA Fans Are Going Absolutely Bonkers Over LeBron James’s Showing Off His Epic Wine Lineup That Most People Can Only Dream Of
LeBron James (Image Source: Getty Images, IG/LeBron James) After a disappointing season with the Lakers, it’s time for rest and recovery for LeBron James. Ahead of the Paris Olympics, the 39-year-old is in a healing process before jumping back on the court. In…
‘SLAY QUEEN’ WNBA fans gasp Cameron Brink ‘never misses with the fits’ after Los Angeles Sparks star reveals new gameday outfit
WNBA star Cameron Brink has turned heads once again with her latest stunning gameday outfit. The Los Angeles Sparks forward left WNBA fans enamored on Sunday with her dazzling attire ahead of her game against the Phoenix Mercury. WNBA star Cameron BrinkCredit: TikTok/cameron_brink The…
NBA – After his sad season, a favorite of LeBron James on the departure of the Lakers? ” I can not believe it “
House of Highlights (DR) The Lakers could use a few players to put together a trade, including a LeBron James favorite last summer. But given his performances, departure seems to be a serious possibility. The summer will be important for…
End of content
No more pages to load