The View's Whoopi Goldberg and Sunny Hostin defended Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter's shoulder check against Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark during a Saturday WNBA game.
On Saturday, a clip of Carter appearing to aggressively shoulder-check Clark to the ground went viral across social media as some claimed the incident may have been racially motivated. Others suggested the incident was spurred out of jealousy of Clark, who has garnered a growing fan base and dominated WNBA headlines in recent months.
Carter's shoulder-check was later determined to be a "flagrant foul" by referees. Chennedy Carter clearly yelled “You bitch” at Caitlin Clark before throwing a flagrant foul. Dear gosh these #WNBA veterans remain bitter at the reason why they will all get paid more and get private planes this season. pic.twitter.com/Z4SHt6cYn6
— Caitlin Oishi (@caitlinerin) June 1, 2024
During a Monday broadcast of ABC's The View, Goldberg and Hostin defended Carter's aggressive behavior
"This happens in basketball all the time," Goldberg said of the incident, noting fellow Chicago Sky player Angel Reese was the subject of a hard foul by Connecticut Sun's Alyssa Thomas in late-May. "This is 'Get out the way or I'ma move you.' That's what the game is."
"Get over yourselves," she said of critics suggesting the incident was confrontational on Carter's behalf. "They're athletes." "Let's be realistic."
After whining about new attention being given to the WNBC because Caitlin Clark was "white" and "pretty," The View's Sunny Hostin and Whoopi Goldberg now defend the on-court, physical attacks she's been receiving. pic.twitter.com/IevkKTpD3D
— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) June 3, 2024
Hostin said she was excited the panel had been frequently discussing the WNBA while mentioning Clark's rising notoriety in the sport.
"It is a contact sport. It's not dainty play," Hostin said, noting physical characteristics of WNBA players boasting over six feet in height. "These are then women that are playing. They're exceptional athletes."
Hostin conceded Carter's shoulder-check was a "flagrant foul," though similarly said Reese was "hammered" by Thomas, who was immediately ejected from the May 25 game.
During a post-game press conference, Carter said she wasn't going to respond to questions about Clark, though said she had "no regrets" about the incident.
"I'm going to compete and play 100% hard no matter who it is or who we're playing," Carter said.
"We've been able to take a lot of hits in the last 24, 48 hours," she continued. "I'm over here smiling. I'm not complaining. ... At the end of the day, it's all love outside of basketball. When we're in those four lines, it's smoke. After, it's all love."
Carter later commented on Clark in a reply to her Threads account.
"Beside three point shooting what does she bring to the table man?" she wrote in response to one user who shared her post-game interview.
