Caitlin Clark given reason to worry as ‘behavior issues’ emerge and Indiana Fever links grow

Chennedy Carter is now an unrestricted free agent after the Chicago Sky opted against retaining the point guard and the Indiana Fever are among the teams linked with the 26-year-old

Caitlin Clark could soon welcome former Chicago Sky ace Chennedy Carter to Indiana Fever as the point guard finds herself an unrestricted free agent.

Carter is up for grabs after departing the Sky following multiple controversies, including one involving Clark. Her now former side endured a frustrating 2024 season, which resulted in them replacing head coach Teresa Weatherspoon with Tyler Marsh.

Carter’s exit from Chicago has now raised some eyebrows, due her noteworthy average of 17.5 points per game last season and apparent camaraderie with Sky star Angel Reese. The deadline for WNBA squads to offer their pending free agents deals was this Monday, and the franchise decided against keeping the 26-year-old on board.

Even though she’s had trouble finding her footing in the WNBA since her 2020 debut, fans are clamoring for the Fever to make a move for her, with one posting that “Chennedy Carter would be great on the Fever” and another adding how “Second chances can happen in Indiana”.

However, her history of disciplinary run-ins, including a notorious scuffle with Clark last term, might give Indiana pause for thought. It’s been suggested behind-the-scenes friction and behavioral issues nudged the Sky to cut ties with Carter.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, a rift was reportedly brewing in the team last year because of Carter’s presence, something that went unchecked by previous coach Weatherspoon. Worries were also apparent that keeping her could thwart the Sky’s plans in attracting new talents during the free-agency period.

It seems Weatherspoon’s failure to tackle the tension might have even led to her exit from Chicago. While details are unconfirmed about the discord involving Carter, there’s still talk over whether her addition to the Fever could be a recipe for trouble, especially given her spat with Clark.

The incident involved the Rookie of the Year getting shoved and mocked by Carter during a game between the Fever and Sky in June 2024. Despite the unsavory melee, post-match, Clarke swiftly bridged any rifts by saying: “Basketball’s competitive. I get it. Sometimes your emotions get the best of you.

“It’s happened to me multiple times throughout the course of my career. People are competitive. [Carter is] having a tremendous season. She’s been great off the bench for them.”

Carter, a Texas native, played college ball for Texas A&M from 2017-2020. She was then drafted by the Atlanta Dream and traded to the Los Angeles Sparks for 2022 after being suspended for conduct detrimental to the team. Carter has also had stints in Turkey and China.

“Chennedy had an incredible season for us last year,” said Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca in a statement to the Chicago Sun-Times regarding her release. “She’s extremely talented and is a player that can impact the game at the highest level in our league. We absolutely appreciate all she did for our team last year. However, we’ve made changes to our staff and will make changes to our roster.”