After Saturday’s loss to the Indiana Fever, the WNBA fined Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky for failing to meet the league’s media guidelines.
The highly anticipated matchup between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, who had previously competed against each other in college, delivered as promised. A memorable incident that prompted major attention was a harsh foul by Sky’s Chennedy Carter on Clark, which occurred during a high-tension match. When Reese’s colleague knocked down the #1 overall pick, she became quite agitated and celebrated loudly.The Sky’s 71-70 loss was followed by a postgame news conference, but Reese was noticeably missing. The former LSU star was fined $1,000 for this infraction. In addition, the Chicago Sky organization was penalized $5,000 for failing to guarantee that every player fulfilled their media responsibilities.
Although she did address the media, Chennedy Carter was cautious to discuss the foul against Clark. After the game referees escalated it from a common foul to a Flagrant 1, the league followed suit. Carter refused to answer any questions on the incident when questioned by Caitlin Clark.Meаnwhile, Cаitlin Clаrk tаlked аbоut the fоul in аn interview thаt tооk plаce during the gаme, describing it аs аn аggressive yet cоntrоllаble аspect оf the gаme. Whаt а terrible bаsketbаll plаy, Clаrk sаid. But I hаve tо plаy thrоugh it, yоu knоw. Thаt is the essence оf this level оf bаsketbаll. I think we were incredibly аggressive; we fаiled tо get а few bаskets in the pаint, sо I’m crоssing my fingers fоr the fоurth.
With the loss, the Sky dropped to 3-4 on the season, while the Fever won their second game. A different story may have played out if Reese and her teammates had won the game, given how reluctant they were to speak with the media afterward.