Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark did her best to shut down the conversation surrounding the recent incident involving her and Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Clark dismissed the need for an apology after Carter blindsided her on the court about a week ago, stating there were “no grudges.”
Caitlin Clark was asked if she’s owed a public apology from Chennedy Carter:
“No. … There’s no grudges. There’s nothing like that. It’s a sport. It’s competitive. It’s not going to be nice all the time.” pic.twitter.com/ZZOujnXmis [1]
— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) June 7, 2024 [2]
“It’s just not where my focus is,” Clark said. “That’s not what I think about on a day-to-day basis. I think about my team and ways I can get better.”
Clark minimized the situation, suggesting that it was being blown out of proportion and urged everyone to move on. She also praised Carter’s performance on the court.
“She’s having a tremendous season — In my eyes, probably in first place for Sixth Player of the Year,” Clark said. “She’s been great off the bench for them. She had 25 points here last night and really helped them win the game.”
Clark’s transition from college to the pros has been met with unprecedented hype, which has led to significant discourse. She has been a target in the WNBA, raising questions about her teammates’ roles and the league’s response to such incidents. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has acknowledged that the situation goes beyond basketball.
The league has remained mostly silent, leading to players like Carter dealing with unruly fan encounters. Clark emphasized the need to focus on the sport itself.
“Sometimes it stinks how much the conversation is outside of basketball and not the product on the floor and the amazing players – how good they are and how great this season has been for women’s basketball,” Clark told Christine Brennan of USA Today.