The Fever and Sky are set to face off Sunday for the first time since the Caitlin Clark-Chennedy Carter incident that put the WNBA in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
Indiana picked up its second win of the season against Chicago on June 1, but not without controversy.
Near the end of the third quarter, Sky guard Carter picked up Fever rookie Clark full-court. Carter hip-checked Clark before Aliyah Boston could inbound the ball, getting whistled for a common foul that was later upgraded to a Flagrant 1.
With the game broadcast nationally on ESPN, the whole basketball world saw the cheap shot. Clark and Carter both addressed the situation, and an unfathomable number of media personalities chimed in with their opinions.
Here's how everything unfolded before and after the play.
MORE: Inside Caitlin Clark vs. Angel Reese's beef history
Caitlin Clark vs. Chennedy Carter beef timeline
Chennedy Carter hip-checks Caitlin Clark
Carter drew the Clark assignment in their first matchup. Like most of the Fever star's opponents this season, Carter was playing tough to try and throw the rookie off her game.
She got over-aggressive late in the third quarter, hip-checking Clark on full-court inbounds coverage.
Chennedy Carter bumped Caitlin Clark for an away from the play foul 😳
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) June 1, 2024
"That's not a basketball play," Clark told ESPN on the broadcast. pic.twitter.com/udTMmWFVyn
The officials reviewed the play to see if it met the criteria of a Flagrant 1 but elected to keep it a common foul (at the time). Play resumed and the Fever won the game, 71-70.
Caitlin Clark, Chennedy Carter address the hard foul
After the contest, Clark shared her thoughts on the matter.
"That's just not a basketball play but gotta play through it," the star rookie said.
Carter declined to comment on the situation in her postgame media availability.
"I ain't answering no Caitlin Clark questions," she said.
Carter, instead, followed up by targeting Clark on social media after the game.
"& that's that on that cause beside three point shooting what does she bring to the table man" Carter wrote of Clark with a laughing emoji.
MORE: Caitlin Clark responds to 'weaponization' of her name in cultural debates
Media addresses Chennedy Carter's hard foul on Caitlin Clark
Carter's foul on Clark — which was later upgraded to a Flagrant 1 by the WNBA league office — became a trending topic among media outlets nationwide.
NBA star Draymond Green was among several others who called for the Fever to get an "enforcer" to protect Clark.
Analysts like ESPN's Stephen A. Smith, Monica McNutt and Pat McAfee all had something to say on the subject. Bob Costas, Charles Barkley, NBA commissioner Adam Silver and Indiana congressman Jim Banks did, too.
The coverage also created a double standard with Sky rookie Angel Reese, who suffered an even harder flagrant foul that resulted in an ejection a few days prior, but it didn't get nearly the same amount of attention.
Caitlin Clark addresses media outrage over Chennedy Carter's foul
Nearly a week after Carter's hard foul made headlines, Clark addressed the situation with a well-thought-out answer.
"My focus is basketball. Sometimes it stinks how much the conversation is outside of basketball and not the product on the floor, the amazing players on the floor and how good they are for their teams, and how great this season has been for women's basketball," Clark began.
"The conversations are gonna happen. It's good for women's basketball, but at the same time, I think it's hard for people to remember that I just love playing basketball. This is my job. This is what I'm here for. I'm not here for all the other stuff."
MORE: How Caitlin Clark can still make Team USA Olympics roster
When asked specifically about Carter, Clark had no hard feelings and instead praised the Sky guard for a strong season so far.
"No. I mean, basketball is competitive, I get it. Sometimes your emotions get the best of you. Happened to me multiple times throughout the course of my career," Clark admitted.
"She's having a tremendous season. She's played great basketball. In my eyes, probably in first place for Sixth Player of the Year...That's just not where my focus is."
The two will go head-to-head for the second of four matchups on Sunday, June 16 at noon ET on CBS.
