Chicago Sky Coach Teresa Weatherspoon Addresses Incident Involving Guard Chennedy Carter

Chicago Sky coach Teresa Weatherspoon has released a statement addressing an incident involving guard Chennedy Carter in Saturday's game against the Indiana Fever. Weatherspoon stated that Carter and the team will learn from the incident, which occurred during the third quarter of a closely contested game.

The incident occurred when Carter committed a flagrant 1 foul against Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark. Carter shoulder-checked Clark from behind, knocking her down before the basketball was inbounded. Although the play was initially called an away-from-the-ball common foul, the WNBA upgraded it to a flagrant 1 after further review.

Weatherspoon acknowledged the physical play, intensity, and competitive spirit that are hallmarks of Chicago Sky basketball. She noted that Carter got caught up in the heat of the moment in an effort to win the game. Weatherspoon and Carter have discussed the incident, and Weatherspoon emphasized that it was not appropriate and does not represent who they are as a team. She expressed confidence that Carter understands there are better ways to handle similar situations on the court and that she will learn from this experience.

After the game, Carter refrained from answering questions about the incident with Clark but made posts about it on social media. Indiana Fever coach Christie Sides and general manager Lin Dunn expressed their concern about the incident and the physical play that Clark, the No. 1 draft pick, has faced this season. Sides compared this situation to the one they experienced last year with their top draft pick, Aliyah Boston, and mentioned that they will continue to fight to get the calls they believe are warranted.

Weatherspoon, a former star player in the early years of the WNBA, is in her first season as a head coach in the league. Carter, who was the No. 4 draft pick by the Atlanta Dream in 2020, was suspended during her second season and then traded to the Los Angeles Sparks. She spent the 2022 season with the Sparks before being waived before the 2023 season. Carter signed with the Sky as a free agent in February and has been averaging 12.0 points per game through seven games.

Weatherspoon concluded her statement by emphasizing that as a team, they will grow together and continue to work hard to display strong leadership and set a positive example for their competitors, fans, and partners.

The incident involving Chennedy Carter and the subsequent response by Coach Teresa Weatherspoon highlights the importance of sportsmanship and fair play in professional basketball. It serves as a reminder that intense competition should not overshadow the values and principles that define a team.