Caitlin Clark says Chennedy Carter does not need to apologize after shoving her to the ground off the ball in last week’s game between Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky.

Clark was waiting to receive a pass when Carter came from behind and shoulder charged her to the ground, appearing to yell ‘you b****’ just before.

Carter has since been subjected to intensifying criticism for her conduct but speaking Friday, Clark said it was time to move on.

‘No,’ she said when asked if Carter should say sorry. ‘Basketball is competitive, I get it.

‘Sometimes emotions get the better of you, it happened to me multiple times throughout the course of my career.

Caitlin Clark says Chennedy Carter does not need to apologize for bodychecking her

People are competitive, it is what it is. She is having a tremendous season, she is playing great basketball.

‘She has been great off the bench for them, she hit 25 last night I think to help them win the game.

‘It is just not where my focus is. I think about my team, I think about ways that I can get better and it’s just basketball at the end of the day.

‘There are no grudges, there is nothing like that. It’s a sport, it’s competitive, it is not going to be nice all the time. That’s not what basketball is and I think that people who play the sport at the highest level understand that.’

Speaking Monday, Carter said she had no regrets over the incident.

Following practice on Monday, she said: ‘I don’t have any regrets with anything. I’m going to compete and play 100 per cent hard – no matter who it is or who we’re playing.’

Speaking earlier Friday, Clark also said that she was frustrated with WNBA coverage when it doesn’t focus on the action on the court.

‘Sometimes it stinks how much, you know, the conversation is outside of basketball,’ Clark said.

Clark was back in action for Indiana Fever against Washington Mystics on Friday night

‘And not the product on the floor, and the amazing players that are on the floor and how good they are for their teams and how great this season has been for women’s basketball going from college basketball to now the WNBA.’

The No 1 overall pick in this year’s WNBA Draft also revealed that while she is staying away from the noise created by social media, she can’t avoid seeing how stories revolving around her and her peers are presented.

‘I’m not on social media, so I don’t see a lot of it,’ Clark added. ‘But you would be surprised, I still have my TV on in my house, and I’m watching sports. You’re still aware of it. You still see it. But other than that, my focus is basketball.’

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