In the latest episode of “What Did Chennedy Carter Do Now?” the Chicago Sky star seems to have taken her role as the WNBA’s unofficial enforcer a bit too seriously. After a nail-biting 82-80 loss to the Connecticut Sun, fans are calling for her head—or at least a suspension—following yet another “accidental” collision, this time with Marina Mabrey’s face.
The incident, which took place during Friday’s game, was the kind of thing that makes you wonder if Carter might secretly be auditioning for the WWE. Mabrey, thinking she had a clear shot after spinning past Carter, suddenly found herself on the receiving end of a smack that had the crowd gasping and the refs reaching for the rulebook. It didn’t take long for the officials to upgrade what was initially a common foul to a flagrant one, marking Carter’s fourth of the season.
Now, four flagrant fouls might be a record if the league kept track of such things, but it certainly seems like Carter has been busy perfecting her unique style of “defensive” play. And by unique, we mean the kind of play that makes opponents flinch whenever they see her coming.
Let’s rewind to June 1st, when Carter decided to introduce Caitlin Clark to the WNBA by way of a shoulder to the back. The Indiana Fever star, probably still wondering what she did to deserve such a welcome, saw the foul upgraded to a flagrant after the WNBA’s replay committee took a closer look. Maybe Carter just wanted to say, “Welcome to the league, kid.” Or maybe she was just having an off day. Either way, fans were not amused.
Back to the present, where Carter’s Friday night performance against the Sun—19 points, six rebounds, four assists, and a side of drama—has fans and critics alike wondering if her next stop might be a suspension. Despite her undeniable talent, leading the Sky with 16.8 points per game, the 25-year-old guard has managed to earn herself a reputation that has fans asking the WNBA, “Can we get rid of her already?”
Twitter, of course, had thoughts. “Seriously, Carter should be suspended by now. This is the second one of this nature,” said one fan, who may or may not be keeping a tally of Carter’s fouls. Another chimed in with, “Chennedy Carter purposely did that, and she timed it well. Get her out of this league.”
Of course, Carter’s antics have their defenders too. Maybe she’s just a misunderstood player who happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time—repeatedly. Or maybe, just maybe, she’s secretly in training to be the league’s first dual-sport athlete, transitioning from the WNBA to professional wrestling.
Either way, one thing’s for sure: the WNBA has a decision to make. Will Carter be handed a suspension? Or will she be allowed to continue her… let’s call it “intense” style of play? As fans wait for the league’s response, one thing is clear: whether you love her or hate her, Chennedy Carter is keeping things interesting.
