Chennedy Carter's Flagrant Foul on Ex-Teammate Marina Mabrey Was Excessive
The Chicago Sky and Connecticut Sun are facing off on Friday evening.
While this is the third matchup between these two teams this season, it's the first time that the Sky are facing their ex-teammate Marina Mabrey, who was traded to the Sun on July 17 after requesting a trade away from Chicago during the WNBA's month-long Olympics break.
An awkward exchange between Mabrey and her former teammates earlier in the day made it clear there could still be some bitterness simmering beneath the surface between her and the Sky.
Which was perhaps proven once Sky guard Chennedy Carter received a flagrant foul for smacking Mabrey hard during Friday's game.
The incident occurred with a few minutes left in the first quarter, when Chicago was leading Connecticut by a score of 14-9.
Mabrey received a pass in the paint. While she gathered for a shot, Carter fouled her hard, appearing to strike her across the arms and perhaps hit her in the face as well.
Chennedy Carter with the Flagrant against Marina Mabrey😳 pic.twitter.com/E3pp6p4fl8
— Jasone Pearson (@806hsscmedia) August 23, 2024
While it may have been a basketball play from Carter, it was also a hard strike that sent Mabrey sprawling. Mabrey then remained on the ground for a moment afterward.
As if this play wasn't already dramatic enough, Mabrey's sister Dara took to X soon after it happened and posted four laughing-crying emojis.
😂😂😂😂
— Dara Mabrey (@daramabrey) August 23, 2024
Although in truth, it's hard to imagine that Mabrey's sister found the flagrant foul all that funny.
This moment already has the women's basketball community buzzing. Yet, because the game is still underway, it remains to be seen whether Mabrey or her former team will get the last laugh.
GRANT YOUNG
Grant Young covers Women’s Basketball, the New York Yankees, and the New York Mets for Sports Illustrated’s ‘On SI’ sites. He holds an MFA degree in creative writing from the University of San Francisco (USF), where he also graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and played on USF’s Division I baseball team for five years. However, he now prefers Angel Reese to Angels in the Outfield.