Former Sky Player Who Hurt Caitlin Clark Sends Clear Message on Fever Star

The start of the 2025 WNBA season is just a couple of weeks away. Following the draft, which saw Paige Bueckers go first overall, the league has been making headlines regularly.

The WNBA preseason will open with Bueckers and her Dallas Wings on the road against the Las Vegas Aces on May 2.

Two weeks later, the regular season will tip off on May 16.

One of the major storylines and rivalries this season will be between the Chicago Sky and the Indiana Fever. It will mark Caitlin Clark’s second season with the Fever. On the other side, Chicago boasts not only Angel Reese, also entering her second season, but now Hailey Van Lith entering her rookie year.

One player from a scuffle that occurred between Chicago and Indiana on June 1, 2024, is no longer with the team. Chennedy Carter is now an unrestricted free agent.

Carter recently discussed the incident on the “hip check.” During a 71-70 loss for the Sky last season, she was involved in a physical play that dropped Clark to the floor, leading to a flagrant foul.

Carter goes on to praise Clark and her abilities on the court, and wanted to make one thing clear.

“In basketball a little bit, there’s things called what you like to call smack,” Carter said. “It’s a part of basketball. I think a play before, maybe I was elbowed. It happens. The next play down, maybe something was said and then maybe the next play down something was said in my face… It was just like a nice little pat, like I’m here… My personal view is, I don’t have anything against her. She’s a great player and so am I.”

Following the game in June, in a statement , Carter’s head coach Teresa Weatherspoon talked about the play: “Physical play, intensity, and a competitive spirit are hallmarks of Chicago Sky basketball.”

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.”

Clark was the first overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft.

In her rookie season, she was named WNBA Rookie of the Year, selected as a WNBA All-Star and earned All-WNBA First Team honors.

The Indiana Fever star averaged 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and a league-best 8.4 assists per game.