Watch: Chennedy Carter avoids stirring beef with Caitlin Clark after making headlines with her antics in last game

Chicago Sky’s Chennedy Carter may have begun a rivalry with rookie phenom Caitlin Clark after their first meeting this season on June 1, when the Sky guard committed a hard foul on the Indiana Fever rookie. That sparked controversies that included nonbasketball topics.

In a total contrast of what transpired the last time, Carter seemed to have eluded her beef with Clark in the first quarter of their matchup on Sunday. As the Sky led by one, Clark drove to the basket only to be met by Sky’s Dana Evans, who fouled, to which Clark responded angrily. But then, Carter appeared to be the cooler head in the situation, making sure Clark didn’t fall to the floor after the foul.

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No violent contact came out of the play, but Evans and Clark looked to have had some words for each other. Meanwhile, Carter just walked past the situation.

This was a far cry from what happened in the Sky and Fever’s first meeting, in which Chennedy Carter delivered an unprompted shoulder check on Clark in the third quarter, in Indiana’s 71-70 win. The contact was initially called a common foul, but the WNBA upgraded it to a flagrant-1 violation a day later.

Sunday’s game, a 91-83 Indiana win, was one of the most physical matchups of the season as Clark was again hit in the head by Sky rookie Angel Reese, who has been one of Clark’s fiercest rivals since college.

Chennedy Carter says she will not change her style of play

Chennedy Carter has been known to be a physical defender. While she refused to talk about her foul on Clark that led to scrutiny around her game, Carter remained steadfast in being herself on the court.

“I’m a competitor, and I’m going to compete no matter who you are, and no matter who’s in front of me,” Carter said after a practice session earlier this month. “So, that’s just what it was. Heat of the moment play. We’re getting at it. We’re getting back and forth. It’s basketball. It’s all hoops. After we finish the game, it’s all love.

“I don’t have any regrets with anything. I’m going to compete and play 100% hard, no matter who it is – like I said – or who we’re playing. No, I don’t have any regrets.”

Carter and Clark seemed to have left the incident behind them, but their intense battles continue to attract viewers and talk about Clark.

Clark, for her part, later brushed off the situation as she acknowledged the physicality in the WNBA brought about by players such as Carter.

Carter was drafted fourth in 2020 and is averaging 12.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.3 steals, and 1.0 steals for the Sky.