The WNBA fined rookie Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky $1,000 on Sunday after she didn’t make herself available for interviews following Saturday’s one-point loss to the Indiana Fever.
The league also fined the organization $5,000 for its failure to make sure the players didn’t violate WNBA media policies.
The Fever defeated the Sky 71-70 in Indianapolis in a game that saw Fever rookie Caitlin Clark pushed to the floor by Chicago’s Chennedy Carter as Clark awaited an inbounds pass.
It reportedly followed trash talk by Clark on the Fever’s previous possession, and after Carter drained a jumper with 15.1 seconds left in the third quarter, replays showed her walk toward Clark, yell out an insult and then use her shoulder to send Clark to the floor.
Reese, who was on the bench at the time, stood and cheered on Carter after the shove.
Carter did speak to the media postgame but refused to discuss Clark.
“Next question,” she said, when asked about Clark.
Later, she said, “I ain’t answering no Caitlin Clark questions” before coach Teresa Weatherspoon intervened and said, “That’s enough. We’re good.”
Carter was assessed an away-from-the-play foul, and Clark was awarded one foul shot, which she made.
The Athletic reported Sunday morning that following a review of the play, the WNBA upgraded it to a Flagrant 1. Carter will not be fined or suspended for the play, per the report.
Clark, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, and Reese have history.
Clark starred at Iowa and Reese at LSU. The Tigers defeated the Hawkeyes in the 2023 championship game of the NCAA Tournament before Clark responded by collecting 41 points and 12 assists in Iowa’s 94-87 win in the Elite Eight this year.
Reese was the overall No. 7 pick by the Sky. In her first seven career games, she is averaging 10.6 points and 8.9 rebounds.
On Saturday, Clark joined Sabrina Ionescu of the New York Liberty as the only players in WNBA history to record at least 150 points, 50 rebounds and 50 assists through their first 10 career games.
–Field Level Media
