Coach says Sky 'will learn' from flagrant foul to Caitlin Clark - ESPN

Chicago Sky coach Teresa Weatherspoon said guard Chennedy Carter and the team «will learn» from an incident in Saturday's game in which Carter committed a flagrant 1 foul against Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark.

«Physical play, intensity, and a competitive spirit are hallmarks of Chicago Sky basketball,» Weatherspoon said in a statement released Monday. «Chennedy got caught up in the heat of the moment in an effort to win the game.

»She and I have discussed what happened and that it was not appropriate, nor is it what we do or who we are. Chennedy understands that there are better ways to handle situations on the court, and she will learn from this, as we all will."

During the third quarter of a physical back-and-forth game won 71-70 by the Fever in Indianapolis, Carter shoulder-checked Clark from behind and knocked her down before the basketball was inbounded.

The play was not reviewed by game officials and was called an away-from-the-ball common foul, but the WNBA on Sunday upgraded it to a flagrant 1 after a league review. After the game, Carter didn't answer questions about the incident with Clark, but made posts about it on social media.

Indiana coach Christie Sides and general manager Lin Dunn both expressed concern after Saturday's game about the incident and the physical play that Clark, the No. 1 overall draft pick, has faced this season.

«We kind of went through this last year with [Aliyah Boston],» Sides said of the Fever's 2023 top draft pick. «New rookies, No. 1 picks… players want to show that they're vets in this league and they do want to make it hard on these rookies. That's just how it goes.

»We sent video in [to the WNBA] last year. We were making our complaints to try to figure out to help AB. Then