ESPN’s Andraya Carter Defends Angel Reese’s Smack on Caitlin Clark: “The Good Part about This Is…”

Another update on the WNBA Draft No. 1 pick vs. ‘Bayou Barbie’! Last Sunday, Clark’s Fever finally took redemption from Sky. But the way to clinch a 91-83 win wasn’t easy. While adding an impressive 23 points to the team’s total, Clark witnessed a hit in the third quarter. It was Angel Reese trying to block Fever’s scoring machine’s shot. “She’s trying to make a play on the ball,” Clark said after the matchup. But Andraya Carter had something to add.

While mentioning the level of physicality WNBA offers, Andraya Carter told ESPN, “It’s going to pop up. We know it’s Caitlin Clark. People that aren’t familiar with this league don’t know how physical this league is.” Previously also Clark has made headlines due to a foul.

Thanks to her extensive fanbase, whenever, Clark has been fouled it goes viral. Due to immense love for her, people look at it and think “it’s an attack on her” But, WNBA matchups witness this level of physicality every now and then. Even last time when Sky’s Reese came up against Clark, she clapped.

Moving on, Carter stated, “The good part about this is it is a basketball play.” Reese’ Foul upgraded to Flagrant 1 has been a part of the basketball game as she was blocking an attempt to make a shot by Clark. Reese is 3 inches taller than Clark which helps her to easily tap on the ball to prevent a score addition when Fever was already on lead.

“Angel Reese makes plays like this all the time. It’s a poor defensive decision because she’s got help sliding right there,” Carter explained to Reese’s defense. Still, Carter felt her words weren’t enough to justify Reese’s move, so she even compared Reese’s check to that of Isabelle Harrison.

For those unaware, American basketball player Harrison is ranked 7th in the league with a record of drawing 51 fouls over 15 games. Sky’s rookie, on the other hand, averages 12.1 points, 2.1 assists, and 10.2 rebounds this season. But Harrison wasn’t the only player Carter compared the Maryland native to.

“Trying to recover” justification for Clark’s resilience

While justifying Clark’s “It was a basketball play” after the matchup, Carter compared her foul to her team’s past experience with Clark. Last time, Sky’s guard Chennedy Carter elbowed Clark, leading her to hit the hardwood. Initially, Chennedy Carter was given a common foul, but it was later upgraded to Flagrant 1 after multiple reviews.

Forming the basis from here, Carter said, “Chennedy Carter hit the biggest grievance. It was not a basketball play; it wasn’t even close. “But according to Carter, Reese’s defense was, “This is a basketball play.” She concluded, “She’s beat; she’s trying to recover, trying to get the block shot. This is great,” arguing Reese’s Flagrant 1 on Clark.

Whether it was a Flagrant 1 or not, Clark’s game has not been impacted by it for sure. Despite all this, she led with 8 rebounds and 9 assists in just 37 minutes. Not only this, but she contributed 23 points to the team’s 91 to secure their second consecutive win. Now the question is: will Clark be able to keep up with the expectations?

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the Reese-Clark rivalry and more, watch this video.