In a recent development, the WNBA has upgraded Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter's foul against Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark to a flagrant-1 violation after reviewing the play. The incident occurred during the third quarter of Saturday's game, which resulted in a 71-70 win for the Fever.

During the play, Carter delivered a shoulder shot to Clark, causing her to be knocked to the floor before an inbound pass. At the time, the officials considered it an away-from-the-ball foul and did not review the play, classifying it as a common foul.

Following the game, Clark expressed her surprise at the level of physicality, stating, "It is what it is. It's a physical game. Go make the free throw and execute on offense, and I feel like that's kind of what we did."

Carter, however, did not address the incident or any questions regarding it after the game, leaving the details of her actions unanswered.

In response to the postgame media interactions, the league fined Sky forward Angel Reese $1,000 for her failure to make herself available to the media. Additionally, Chicago was fined $5,000 for failing to ensure all players complied with the league's media policies.

The WNBA holds the authority to reclassify a foul as a flagrant or upgrade it during a review process. In extreme cases, fines or suspensions may be imposed on players. However, Carter did not receive any additional penalties or disciplinary action in this instance.

It is important to note that players accrue points for flagrant fouls during the regular season, and if they reach a certain threshold, suspensions are imposed.

Speaking about the incident, Indiana coach Christie Sides called it a "non-basketball play" that should have been called in the moment. Sides commended Clark for her composure in dealing with the physical play she has faced throughout the season.

Clark had a solid performance in the game, finishing with 11 points, eight rebounds, and six assists, while Reese contributed eight points and 13 rebounds.

Addressing the physicality in the sport, Clark shared her perspective, saying, "I grew up playing basketball with the boys. It's always been physical and feisty, and you have to find a way to hold your own."

As the competition intensifies in the WNBA, incidents like these are subject to scrutiny and review, emphasizing the league's commitment to player safety and fair play.