Caitlin Clark addressed the incident involving Angel Reese’s flagrant-1 foul during the Indiana Fever’s 91-83 victory over the Chicago Sky on Sunday, downplaying any animosity between the two longtime rivals.
“Just a part of basketball,” Clark told ESPN’s Stephen Holder. “It is what it is. Trying to make a play on the ball, get the block. It happens.”
The incident occurred in the third quarter when Reese fouled Clark on a layup attempt, initially called a common foul but upgraded to a flagrant 1 after video review revealed contact to Clark’s face.
Clark led all scorers with 23 points on efficient shooting (7-of-11 overall, 3-of-7 from three-point range), helping the Fever improve their season record to 5-10, including a 3-4 mark at home. She also contributed significantly with nine assists, eight rebounds, and two blocks.
Reese, in her rookie season with the Sky, finished with a double-double of 11 points and 13 rebounds, adding five assists, two steals, and a block in 31 minutes. She expressed frustration with the officiating following the game.
“It’s a basketball play,” Reese said. “I can’t control the refs. They affected the game obviously a lot tonight.”
Reflecting on their rivalry that originated from their college days, Clark and Reese first clashed in the 2023 NCAA Tournament final when Reese’s LSU defeated Clark’s Iowa. Tensions escalated when Reese taunted Clark during the game’s closing moments.
In the following year’s NCAA Elite Eight, Clark and Iowa avenged their loss by eliminating Reese and LSU from the tournament. Clark’s team eventually reached the national title game but fell short against South Carolina.
Their professional rivalry reignited on June 1, with Indiana narrowly edging Chicago by one point in their first matchup as WNBA pros.
Clark emphasized that the competitive spirit between her and Reese could help garner more attention for women’s basketball.
“I think it’s just the emotion and the passion that we play with,” Clark remarked. “I think people love to see that. And I think that’s maybe not something that was always appreciated in women’s sports, and it should be.”
Both players continue to be key figures in the WNBA’s rising stars, showcasing their skills and competitive edge in each encounter on the court.
