‘That’s what the game is’: Whoopi Goldberg and Sunny Hostin defend Chennedy Carter amid backlash over Caitlin Clark bodycheck

LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA: 'The View' co-hosts, Whoopi Goldberg and Sunny Hostin, jumped to Chennedy Carter's defense after she bodychecked top draft pick Caitlin Clark during a game over the weekend. 

For context, Chicago Sky player Chennedy Carter faced widespread backlash for apparently yelling "you b***h" as she shoved the Indiana Fever star to the ground, resulting in a serious foul. The incident happened during the Saturday, June 1, WNBA game between the Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky.

Whoopi Goldberg says such incidents happen in basketball

During a segment on Monday, June 3, episode of the talk show, 'Sister Act' star Goldberg urged viewers to "get over [themselves]" and recognize that WNBA players are "athletes".

"Let’s be realistic, OK? This is basketball, OK?" co-host Whoopi Goldberg said. "This happens in basketball all the time. Angel Reese got clotheslined the other day."

Carter's teammate Angel Reese faced criticism for cheering when Clark was pushed to the floor.

Goldberg further said, "This is, "Get out the way or I’ma move you." That’s what the game is … A lot of people, however, are reading this as confrontation. But this is not confrontation."

"They’re not playing on the court. They’re there to win. And just because they’re women ... get over yourselves, they’re athletes," she added, as per DailyMail.

Sunny Hostin says basketball is not 'dainty play'

Hostin, a member of the WNBPA board of advocates, reminded viewers that basketball is a "contact sport," although she acknowledged that Carter's body slam was "clearly a flagrant foul".

"This is maybe the fifth time on this show we're talking about the WNBA guys, this is unbelievable," she added.

Hostin continued, noting that the rough nature of play would ultimately improve the players, "It’s not dainty play. When you’re sitting there [and] you’re watching, sometimes when that happens you think, "Ooh, wow. I couldn’t take it'."

"It’s gonna make Caitlin better. It’s gonna make Angel better. It’s gonna make the league better," she emphasized.

Goldberg then joined in, saying, "This is what sports are. They play hard and they play brilliantly. Because none of us can beat them. None of us can do what they can do so let’s give them their due. They’re doing their thing."

Internet reacts to ‘The View’ co-hosts' remarks on the Caitlin Clark-Chennedy Carter incident

Following 'The View' co-hosts' defense of Chennedy Carter, numerous social media users have expressed their viewpoints.

One said, “Can you imagine whoopi's reaction if Caitlin committed the same foul against Chennedy???"

The second wrote, “Whoopi needs to stay in her lane. She is a know it all.”

The third claimed, “Hard to believe anyone can watch this Lying Biased show.”

The fourth added, “They’d be screaming to throw Clark out of the league if the other way around. Clark has a target on her back and something bad is going to happen.”

The fifth commented, “If there is anyone who needs "to get over yourself" it's Whoopsi with Hostin a close second. This blatant racism has got to be called out.”

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