Caitlin Clark might be the biggest name in basketball right now, but Chennedy Carter is the one still catching heat.
Nearly a year after the infamous June 1, 2024 clash between Carter and Clark, the controversy continues to dominate conversations in and around the WNBA. The heated moment – when Carter checked Clark hard from behind during a Sky vs Fever showdown – became one of the most polarizing incidents in women’s basketball. It was later upgraded to a flagrant foul, and the aftermath spiraled from on-court drama to a full-blown cultural flashpoint.
Carter says it was just “basketball,” but no one’s forgetting
In a recent video appearance with streamer N3on, Carter finally broke her silence.
She claimed the contact wasn’t malicious and explained it as part of the emotional intensity of the game. “It’s a part of basketball,” she said. “What you like to call smack… it happens.” She admitted there might’ve been some jawing, maybe an elbow, and her bump was just a way of saying, “I’m here.”
Carter compared the play to NBA clips with players shoving LeBron James, suggesting it was normal hoop energy.
“I’m a great player. She’s a great player… I don’t have anything against her,” she added. But fans on social media didn’t exactly accept her statement with open arms.
One fan mocked the clip with, “Y’all seriously don’t believe her do you ” while another suggested it smelled of PR damage control: “She’s changed her tune cause no team wants to sign her.”
Despite Carter averaging 17.5 points last season with the Chicago Sky, she remains a free agent – and her new tone has sparked theories she’s trying to get back in the league’s good graces.
Too little too late? Carter’s past comments still loom large
What fans aren’t forgetting is Carter‘s postgame press conference right after the foul.
When asked about Clark, she shut it all down cold: “I ain’t answering no Caitlin Clark questions.” That line became iconic – and not in a good way – fueling fan frustration and suspicions of deeper resentment.
Even worse, the fallout wasn’t limited to basketball. Sky players faced harassment, including a disturbing hotel incident in D.C. where a man reportedly directed racist and misogynistic remarks at the team. The situation quickly escalated from sports beef to national controversy.
So while Caitlin Clark has tried to take the high road – saying “emotions get the best of you” – fans aren’t quite ready to move on. As one online commenter joked, “Imagine if the Fever sign Carter and Sedona Prince – we’re talking must-see TV chaos.”
The basketball might be clean now, but the baggage from last season isn’t going away anytime soon.
Read the full article here
