Phoenix here's M hting low she's going to go to the free throw line on the foul by Carter I mean there's levels to this so I'm not going to fight with that K Carter that looks like it hurt picture this your Marina maybre soaring for a shot suddenly bam chennedy Carter slams into you it's her fourth flagrant foul this season the ref's whistle blows but the real shock comes after the game mayra's words they're about to change everything hold we must rewind before we dissect that foul why did Mayra originally decide to trade in her Sky Jersey the reason she just scored 24 points against her former squad has everything to do with the surprising answer this has become more than simply a basketball game it's personal let's go back to the beginning of the season when Marina M startled Chicagoans by asking to be traded why would a player want to leave a winning team you might be asking yourself that's where the Intriguing part starts though playing time and stats weren't the only factors in Ma's decision ision to depart the sky it was more profound and had to do with Team chemistry which impacts every player on the floor and wow did that choice pay out in unexpected ways let's go back to Ma's initial encounter with her old team she's not simply having fun she's enthralled Off the Bench May scores an incredible 24 points in just 24 minutes people that is one point every minute the best part is that she outscored her former team's whole bench how about putting out a state statement you may be thinking that this is just another instance of a player returning to their former Squad however this tale is not over yet there was more to May's performance than just making a statement it was about figuring out where she fit in with a group of people that appreciate her contributions MRE had no hesitation following the game she continued I appreciate that everybody's unselfish and whoever's open gets the ball they are not just meaningless words they offer a glimpse into Ma's motivations for her actions she wanted to be part of a team where she could grow and be recognized for her abilities however we must not Overlook the most important issue the disagreement with chennedy Carter it seemed as though Ma's trade request her search for the ideal team fit and her outstanding play against her former team culminated in that one on court moment see mayra's transfer from Chicago to her new team involves more than simply numbers on the basketball court it's about figuring out who you are defending your convictions and occasionally facing your history headon and when that history hits you with a blatant infraction that's when things get really hot you may be wondering how mayra's outstanding effort against her former Squad could be topped so fasten your seat belts because we're going to get deep into the Carter Enigma Das Su four egregious infractions in a single season is Breaking rather than just pushing the envelope everyone is wondering if Carter's obvious Talent justifies the risk she takes on the court let's dissect it although chennedy Carter is no stranger to the spotlight lately it's been all bad Phoenix here's ma hting low she's going to go to the free throw line on the foul by Carter K Carter that looks like it hurt this most recent M incident it's merely the very beginning we are discussing a player who has committed four egregious fouls in one season it's not simply a bad day on the court the league is talking about this pattern don't get me wrong though Carter has abilities that cause Defenders to perspire like a magnet she can suck the defense in and make shots appear out of thin air the problem is that all that Brilliance has a cost that is becoming more and more difficult to ignore imagine yourself a coach with a player that has the ability to light up the scoreboard like a pinball machine sounds fantastic doesn't it however what happens if that same player makes a mistake and gets suspended or sent off that offensive Firepower seems less potent suddenly not only coaches are feeling the fire either we are at a turning point for the WNBA there is a player with unquestionable star power on one side conversely there is an increasing number of supporters and detractors advocating for grave repercussions similar light trying to balance a basketball on your little finger one mistake can cause the entire thing to collapse what then motivates Carter's combative approach is it just the intensity of the situation or is there a more profound reason According to some it's just pure game passion some contend that there is a lack of self-control whatever the cause the league is in a difficult situation as a result consider it the goal of the WNBA is to showcase the elite level of women's basketball however how can you accomplish that when one of your great players is generating negative press selling a sports car with a broken engine is similar sure it looks amazing but at what cost not to be overlooked as player safety undoubtedly basketball is a contact sport however there is a boundary between risky activity and tough play Carter is endangering not only her own career but also the safety of other players with every flagrant foul that kind of thing has the potential to negatively alter a person's career what then should the WNBA do Carter is a player who can fill seats and light up the scoreboard suspend him and you lose you run the risk of suggesting that this kind of behavior is okay if you let her play damned if you do damned if you don't is a classic situation Mayra takes the mic right when you thought there was no more intensity left in this story what she says after that is revolutionary rather than merely unexpected could her response hold the key to unlocking the Carter mystery in the WNBA early in the game you came in got hard foul FL fouls to your face um smack to the face I mean there's levels to this so I'm not going to fight with that I'm just going to do what the team needs so if it means that this game they wanted to bring me off the bench some games I might start some games I might not I just want to help us get a ring everyone was anxious to see what Marina M had to say after the intense Clash was over would she retaliate against Carter suspend people nope nobody expected M to respond the way she did M chose to play it cool and ignored the foul and Carter's aggressive move I'm just going to do what the team needs she declared to assist us get a ring is all I want to do how about maintaining composure under duress this is a masterpiece and professionalism not just a case of shrugging off a heavy foul but hold on there's more to discuss May bre's marks applied to more than just one player or one game um just like first welcoming me in like sometimes when you get a new player and you're used to like your Chemistry you have to sacrifice for that player to like your Chemistry you have to sacrifice for that player so I appreciate that moving the ball and being in a read and react offense is really good because everybody's unselfish and whoever's open gets the ball so they're bringing attention to the important things in professional sports she is demonstrating to us what it means to be a true athlete by emphasizing collaboration in the larger picture sure that sounds nice but what about Carter's foul you may be asking yourself the fact is mayra's answer does not downplay the problem it's rephrasing it she's not getting sucked into Private Affairs she is focusing on the reward which is the championship ring instead nor is this merely talk m is acting to support her statements do you recall the 24o performance we discussed before 24 points in 24 minutes off the bench I mean she literally outscored their whole bench alone everything we've been seeing when we play against her um you know she's aggressive um she's able to create shots and that is the result of prioritizing the team she sounds as though she is saying I'll let my game do the talking let's take a moment to pan out now M strategy is a part of a larger discussion that is now taking place in the WNBA we are discussing player safety sportsmanship and what it means to be a professional athlete her respon serves as a guide for handling difficult circumstances both on and off the court consider it MRE is following a different route in a society where Twitter beefs and Trash Talk are the main topics of conversation she's demonstrating that competition doesn't have to mean going Beyond boundaries that you are capable of advocating for yourself without disparaging others although it's difficult to find this equilibrium wow does it matter this is where things become really fascinating though mry isn't merely leading by example for other athet she's putting out a challenge to the entire league to improve she's reminding everyone what the real purpose of the WNBA is by emphasizing cooperation and championships highlight reals and individual stars are not the only considerations it's about uniting to build something greater than oneself not to be overlooked are the supporters they had more to celebrate than simply points on a scoreboard after mayra's answer she has demonstrating that personality is equally as important as skill that is a breath of fresh air in a world of sports where drama seems to be the main focus at times what does all of this imply for the wnba's future then that after all is the key question mry strategy might represent the beginning of a novel Trend an alternative to press conference showdowns and Twitter Wars for resolving disputes it's about staying focused on the task at hand even in trying circumstances