Caitlin Clark on Chennedy Carter Foul: ‘Stinks’ How Conversation Isn’t on Basketball

The hard foul by Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter on Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark ignited a wave of conversations about the WNBA that had little to do with the sport.

Clark weighed in on the drama of the past week for the first time on Friday, telling reporters that she does her best not to pay attention to the noise.

“My focus is basketball. Sometimes it stinks how much the conversation is outside of basketball and not the product on the floor and the amazing players that are on the floor and how good they are for their teams and how great this season has been for women’s basketball,” Clark said.

During the Fever’s 71-70 win over the Sky in a Commissioner’s Cup game on Saturday, Carter body-checked Clark as she waited for an in-bounds pass in the third quarter, causing her to fall to the ground. The referees called it an away-from-the-ball foul.

The play was later upgraded to a flagrant foul by the WNBA.

The WNBA has reached new heights in popularity over the past few years, so Carter’s hard foul was quickly put under the spotlight. Pundits debated the physicality of women’s basketball, Clark’s impact on the sport and how race played a factor in her popularity.

Clark said she understands the increase in discussions surrounding the WNBA, but her preference would be to keep things focused on basketball.

“I wish we could all play basketball and it is what it is, but like I said, the conversations are gonna happen, it’s good for women’s basketball at the same time, but I think it’s hard for people to remember like, I just love playing basketball,” she said. “This is my job, this is what I’m here for. I’m not here for all the other stuff. That’s not what my teammates are here for, either, and that goes for the rest of the teams in the league as well.”

Clark and the Fever will be looking to improve on their 2-9 record when they visit the 0-10 Washington Mystics on Friday night.