Caitlin Clark has faced plenty of physical defenders since the beginning of her WNBA career.
On Saturday afternoon, when she and the Indiana Fever beat the Chicago Sky 71-70 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, she was extremely upset about one particular hard foul.
When Sky’s Chennedy Carter scored with 15.1 seconds left in the third quarter, she immediately went to guard Clark, who was looking to receive the inbounds pass.
However, before Clark could receive the pass, Carter shoulder-checked him, knocking him to the floor and immediately calling a foul.
Clark made one free throw before the end of the quarter and then was interviewed by ESPN after the horn sounded, where he was asked about his conversation with the officials after the buzzer.
“Yeah, that was not a basketball kind of play,” Clark said, “but I’ve got to play through it and that’s what basketball at this level is all about. I thought we played really physical. We missed some bunnies around the rim, so hopefully it comes down to the fourth quarter.”
But Clark and the Fever kept their cool, finishing with 11 points, eight rebounds and six assists to earn their second win of the season.
Despite the loss, Carter scored a game-high 19 points on 8-of-12 field goal attempts.
Carter declined to answer questions about Foul and Clark after the game.
“I’m not going to answer any questions about Caitlin Clark,” she told reporters.
The No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft has had some tough moments in the WNBA, including a heated exchange with Seattle Storm player Victoria Vivians earlier this week after Clark made a deep three-point shot.
Clark was assessed a technical foul after the incident, his third since joining the Fever.
After the loss to Seattle, Clark spoke about the intensity he received early in his pro career.
“I don’t know what it is, but I feel like I’m being slapped,” she told reporters on Thursday.
