Many opinions have been shared about the flagrant hit on Caitlan Clark of the WNBA's Indiana Fever by Chennedy Carter of the Chicago Sky. But, with all those opinions, the issue with this cowardly hit should be crystal clear. As Sally Jenkins said in The Washington Post, of all places; By allowing cheap shots on Caitlin Clark, the WNBA is courting trouble. The Chicago Sky’s Chennedy Carter should have been suspended by the WNBA for a game, and that’s just the basketball of it. Not women’s basketball, or rookie hazing basketball, or racially loaded basketball, either. Basketball. There’s nothing competitive or incidental about it. But, political narratives demand complicating the issue, because she is white and the offender is black and the league is predominately black.  That makes this not about basketball, but about jealousy, racism, ignorance and the political narratives that cover up such character flaws. Jealousy, because Caitlyn is getting all the attention. - Stephen A Smith said as much. - Monica McNutt said as much with Stephen A when she said where is the respect for all of us who built this league and where she can come nto and taek to the next level. - Is there jealousy of Clark’s enormous, almost inexplicable popularity and her massive sponsorship deals? You bet. Racist, because black players don't like a white girl making headlines in 'their' league. - The View said this by saying there is 'pretty privilege' & 'white privilege' Ignorance, because the WNBA has never made a profit. It is kept afloat for political reasons by the NBA. They now have a chance to get people interested in the WNBA, to get game attendance up and to get profitable. Attacking the person that is giving them that opportunity is just ignorant. Race is supposed to be irrelevant.  Lebron James said "Caitlin Clark is the reason why a lot of great things is going to happen for the WNBA…I’m rooting for Caitlin ..." In addition to Sally Jenkins article above, there was another Washington Post article a day before, The ugly discourse surrounding Caitlin Clark, by Candace Buckner. Caitlin Clark is here to save the WNBA, as long as she doesn’t get touched. We should all protect Caitlin Clark. She is the white knight galloping in to save the Dark Continent known as the WNBA, the singular star uplifting an entire women’s sports movement that only now matters because men are watching. when Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter committed a flagrant foul by shoulder-checking Clark on Saturday, she became the subject of an ugly discourse that assumes Clark’s frailty — and accuses her rivals of villainy.The fourth-year guard out of Texas A&M did cross the line of fair play. Ever since, however, the moment has been presented as proof that WNBA veterans don’t like Clark and are intentionally roughing her up. But that’s an insincere way of putting it. Because the usual suspects would prefer spewing coded language, let’s be more specific: The moment is being magnified as incriminating evidence that brutish Black women are jealous of the league’s supposed savior and therefore would rather manhandle her than show appreciation.Clark can’t simply be a rookie going through her Welcome to the WNBA phase, something that even the league itself leaned into with its tongue-in-cheek commercial aimed at newcomers, both the ones on the court and those in front of television screens. Because Clark is the linchpin drawing sellout crowds and groundbreaking ratings — the marketable star with the agreeable skin color and sexuality — her plight carries a sympathetic bent with her most loyal audience.Those in the media who create lazy headlines, desperate for your clicks; the male pundits who suddenly want to share their passionate opinions about the WNBA; and the players, in a predominantly Black league, who are being asked to show deference to this White rookie’s popularity. Candace, you just participated in "the ugly discourse surrounding Caitlin Clark". I didn't hear you make the point about the lack of 'inclusion' in a predominantly Black league. If the WNBA was 'predominately white', wouldn't you be complaining about the lack of inclusion and racist behavior of the league? Why are you afraid of the league being improved by adding a "marketable star" of any race? Continuing the rest of Sally Jenkin's article; Better yet, watch it (the Chennedy Carter hit) side by side with Patrick Beverley’s play. There are sundry comparable instances in the NBA, and they all earned suspensions. The closest comparison is Beverley, who has been suspended twice for almost identical acts — or less. In 2021, when Beverly was with the Los Angeles Clippers, he earned a one-game penalty for merely shoving the Phoenix Suns’ Chris Paul in the back with two hands during a play stoppage in the Western Conference finals. In 2022, the league office gave him a three-game suspension for a hard shoulder blow almost exactly like Carter’s flagrant-one. Late in a heated contest between the Los Angeles Lakers and Suns, Beverley had been going back and forth with Phoenix’s Deandre Ayton. During a stoppage, Beverley lowered his shoulder and drove it into an unsuspecting Ayton, knocking him to the ground. “That is a straight body check,” ESPN’s announcer declared. That time, Beverley got a more severe suspension because of his history. Clark is absorbing more fouls statistically than any other WNBA rookie. It’s not just a function of typical rookie hazing or Clark’s own conduct. One of the many dynamics in this situation is that the mauling hasn’t stopped Clark, so it’s liable to get uglier. “There’s a difference between tough defense and unnecessary — targeting actions.” There is contact in basketball now. Like it or not, that's a fact. But, there are rules when contact is not allowed and the player is given a foul. Flagrant and dirty hits are not allowed in basketball (or any sport). They are unacceptable. The hit on Caitlyn Clark was such a hit. You do not have to send a player to the hospital to recognize and unnecessary, hate-filled and flagrant hit. It is unacceptable and the person who did it should not only have been given a flagrant foul, but thrown out of the game and given a suspension. If you want the game to be competitive & clean, then enforce the rules! People don't come to games to see cowardly, dirty hitters play basketball. They come to see Caitlyn shoot. What a concept. Yep. Jealously, racism & ignorance. This is what Caitlyn Clark said after the incident: "It is what it is," Clark said. "I feel like I'm just at the point where you accept it and don't retaliate. Just let them hit you, be what it is, don't let it get in your head and know it's coming. I think at this point, I know I'm gonna take a couple hard shots a game, and that's what it is. Clark seems to have the right perspective in a competitive game. Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter says she has "no regrets" for a dirty, cowardly hit. Any questions?