Chennedy Carter and the Chicago Sky were reportedly harassed upon arriving at the team hotel in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday.
As the Sky were getting off the bus before Thursday’s game against the Mystics, a man confronted the team, specifically targeting Carter. According to the Chicago Sun-Times.
The unidentified man was carrying a camera and was taken away by Sky team security, general manager Jeff Pagliocca told the outlet.
Police were not called to the hotel and the situation was quickly defused, GM said.
Pagliocca also suggested the man intended to speak with Carter, but it’s unclear what he discussed or how he managed to find out which hotel the Skye family was staying at.
According to the Sun-Times, the Sky will have several security guards accompany the players wherever they go.
“It ended as quickly as it began,” Pagliocca told the outlet. “I am confident that our security personnel always make the players feel safe and today’s game was a good example of how important they are to our team.”
Officials at Sky and Carter’s office did not immediately respond to messages from The Washington Post.
News of the incident first appeared on social media after several Sky sources posted about it on X, but did not name Carter.
“It’s disgusting that he brought a camera to the team hotel when he got off the bus and then harassed his teammates by shoving the camera in their faces.” Skystar Angel Reese said:.
“Thank you for being safe” SkyForward’s Isabel Harrison wrote:“It’s insane that my teammates are being harassed in the hotel, they can’t even get off the bus.”
Carter has been embroiled in controversy after committing a vicious foul on Clarke away from the ball in Saturday’s match between the Sky and Fever.
The play garnered attention from many critics and sparked debate over Carter’s behavior during the game and his reaction in the days following.
The physical abuse has also raised questions about whether Clark was targeted by opposing WNBA teams because of the star power she brings to the league.
The situation has escalated to the point where an Indiana congressman wrote a letter to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert demanding an explanation for Clark’s treatment since joining the league.
“Cennedy Carter went out of his way to wrestle Clark to the floor when neither player had the ball. Moreover, this excessive aggression was clearly cheered on and supported by Carter’s teammate, Angel Reese,” Rep. Jim Banks (R-Indiana’s 3rd District) wrote in the letter.
