'ENVY'
WNBA fans fume at ’embarrassing’ Caitlin Clark ‘cheap shots’ as Angel Reese spotted celebrating on bench
The Fever were taking on the Chicago Sky for their second win of the season
WNBA fans have been left furious after Caitlin Clark was forced to the floor during the Indiana Fever's win on Saturday.
On Saturday, former Iowa Hawkeyes star Clark, 22, enjoyed her first home win since being drafted first overall by the Fever.
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Taking on fellow former NCAA National Champion and first-round rookie, Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky, Clark's Fever managed a narrow 72-71 win at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
However, the talk of the town wasn't Clark's triumph over Reese, nor the fact this was just Indiana's second win of the season.
During the third period, after the Sky put up two, narrowing their deficit to 53-49, Clark found herself blindsided by Chennedy Carter.
The Sky guard aggressively defended Clark as she awaited the inbound pass, shoving her to the floor.
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Some on X, formerly known as Twitter, also suggested that in the replay, Carter appeared to call Clark a "b***h."
Following the shove, Reese leaped up from the bench to applaud her teammate.
Carter was called for a foul, with Clark landing the free throw shortly after.
The clip quickly went viral on X, with fans enraged by the unnecessary act, with some even calling for Carter to be banned.
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"This is why people say CC gets treated differently," commented one fan.
"What players are getting side-checked like this for no reason."
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A second said, "Look how hyped Angel Reese is on the bench after Caitlin Clark takes a cheap shot."
While another commented, "This is just frankly an embarrassing look for the WNBA and its players.
"The league is finally getting some well-overdue coverage because of a transcendent talent like Clark, and she's treated like this?
"I get competition, but this is envy+jealously. Where are her teammates too?"
Multiple celebrities were also less than impressed by the incident.
Golf influencer and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model Paige Spiranac took to X to register her opinion.
"Imagine bringing millions of new fans to the game which in turn will make every player more money and yet they treat you like this," she wrote.
"A rising tide lifts all boats."
Influencer and boxer Jake Paul also weighed in, saying, "WNBA needs to fix this before players and people get hurt."
While Speak! on FS1 host and former NFL star Emmanual Acho also called out Carter for what he saw as "arrogance."
"Athletes are some of the most arrogant people on the planet, it often takes that attitude of arrogance to excel," he tweeted.
"However, when arrogance isn't being fed, it gives birth to envy, and the envy of Caitlin Clark is undeniable.
"Let's not gaslight fans & tell them it doesn't exist."
Clark, however, had the last laugh, finishing the win with 11 points, eight rebounds, and six assists.
She and two-time All-Star Sabrina Ionescu are the only players in the league's history to have racked up over 150 points, 50 rebounds, and 50 assists in just their first 10 games, as per the WNBA.
Kelsey Mitchell led the way in scoring for Indiana, finishing with 18 points, two rebounds and two assists.
As for the Sky, Carter finished with a game-high 19 points, four rebounds, and six assists.
Reese managed eight points, 13 rebounds, and one assist.
"It is what it is," Clark said of the incident after the game.
Carter also kept her response short and sweet, insisting that she "didn't say anything" during the exchange, before adding, "I ain't answering no Caitlin Clark questions."
This comes a matter of days after Clark called out the physicality she'd been forced to deal with since arriving in the NBA, after their loss to the Seattle Storm on Thursday.
"I feel like I'm getting hammered, I don't know," she told the media.
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Indiana returns to action on Sunday when they take on the New York Liberty at the Barclays Center.
Chicago returns to action on Tuesday when they host New York at the Wintrust Arena.
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