Caitlin Clark discovered a defender within the Chicago Tribune editorial board on Monday.
The newspaper’s editorial board printed a full-throated protection of the Indiana Fever rookie after she was hip-checked to the ground by Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter within the third quarter of their matchup on Saturday. The piece likened Carter’s foul to an assault.
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Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter (7) is whistled for a flagrant foul for flattening Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark on June 1, 2024, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. (Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photographs)
“The foul dedicated by Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter was egregious,” the piece reads. “Exterior of a sporting contest, it could have been seen as an assault. Even inside a sporting context, it was dangerous: earlier than the ball even was inbounded, Carter got here up from behind Clark, shoving her on the hip and knocking her over. Lip readers concurrently construed a five-letter epithet dancing on the Sky participant’s lips. She ought to have been ejected from the sport.”
The editorial board added that Clark hasn’t completed something to deserve the therapy she’s been receiving.
The piece additionally mentioned Clark has extra stress on her shoulders than most gamers within the league and known as on different gamers to handle issues, just like the Carter foul, earlier than it will get out of hand.
“In addition they are human beings and, in Clark’s case, a rookie participant on whose shoulder rests extra stress than most if not all different gamers within the league are feeling,” the piece reads. “She has to compete on her personal deserves, however basketball has guidelines and if the WNBA chews her up and spits her out as a result of it’s too afraid of being known as racist to guard her from racially tinged animosity, or certainly from fouls such because the one Carter dedicated, it would have completed an enormous disservice to its personal sport, now at a significant inflection level, thanks in no small measure to, sure, Clark.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark brings the ball up the courtroom in opposition to the Chicago Sky on June 1, 2024, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. (Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photographs)
“It’s additionally incumbent among the many skilled WNBA gamers to nip this nonsense within the bud, earlier than it’s too late.”
Carter mentioned later Monday she had no complaints concerning the fallout from the foul.
Chicago head coach Teresa Weatherspoon gave a lengthier assertion on the matter and known as Carter’s foul inappropriate.
“Bodily play, depth, and a aggressive spirit are hallmarks of Chicago Sky basketball,” Weatherspoon mentioned. “Chennedy obtained caught up within the warmth of the second in an effort to win the sport. She and I’ve mentioned what occurred and that it was not applicable, neither is it what we do or who we’re. Chennedy understands that there are higher methods to deal with conditions on the courtroom, and she’s going to study from this as all of us will.
Head coach Teresa Weatherspoon of the Chicago Sky appears to be like on through the sport in opposition to the Indiana Fever on June 1, 2024, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. (Jeff Haynes/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs)
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“As a staff, we are going to develop collectively and proceed to work laborious to show sturdy management and set a optimistic instance for our opponents, followers, and companions.”
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