In the opening game of the WNBA season, the Indiana Fever dominated the Chicago Sky, but Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese stole the show because of an incident that stunned everyone.
Caitlin knocked Angel to the ground, and the Sky star swiftly got back on her feet and confronted the Fever star.
Highlights
- Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark rekindled their fierce rivalry on Saturday, overshadowing the Chicago Sky’s 93-58 thumping defeat to the Indiana Fever.
- Their rivalry dates back to their college days when Angel’s LSU defeated Caitlin’s Iowa in the 2023 NCAA Championship.
- WNBA ruled that Caitlin’s foul met the criteria for a Flagrant 1, and Roy Gulbeyan explained the decision.
Angel Reese became a basketball phenom at Saint Frances Academy, earning McDonald’s All-American honors in 2020. Her career reached new heights when she transferred to LSU for her junior season.
She became a unanimous First-Team All-American and led the Tigers to their first-ever NCAA championship, earning Most Outstanding Player honors in the tournament.
Likewise, she set the NCAA single-season record for double-doubles and the SEC single-season rebounding record.
Her dominance continued in the WNBA when the Chicago Sky selected her with the 7th overall pick in the 2024 draft. During the rookie season, she became a WNBA All-Star and broke the league’s single-season rebounding record.
Meanwhile, Caitlin Clark attended Dowling Catholic High School in her hometown, earning McDonald’s All-American honors and ranking as ESPN’s No. 4 recruit in her class.
Her collegiate career continued at the University of Iowa, where she led NCAA Division I in scoring and earned All-American recognition during her first year.
Caitlin was named National Player of the Year in her junior season, leading her team to its first-ever national championship game.
After the Indiana Fever selected her in the 2024 WNBA draft, she took the league by storm, becoming the first rookie in WNBA history to record a triple-double.
Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark Rivalry Reignites as Hard Foul Sparks Heated On-Court Clash
An intense third-quarter exchange between Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark overshadowed the Chicago Sky’s 93-58 thumping defeat to the Indiana Fever on Saturday, rekindling their fierce rivalry.
As the WNBA season progresses, the Angel-Caitlin rivalry is far from over, and all eyes will be on the next Fever VS Sky matchup.
Angel drove to the basket for an easy layup until Caitlin delivered a hard foul, sending her to the floor.
The Sky forward quickly got up and confronted Caitlin, leading to a brief but intense standoff before teammates separated them.
Officials reviewed the play and handed Caitlin a Flagrant 1 foul for unnecessary contact, while Angel was given a technical foul for her reaction.
The sequence became an instant talking point, with fans and analysts debating whether Caitlin’s foul was justified or excessive.
Yeah, I think that it’s a little misrepresentation to calm her down. I think emotions were high on both sides And so, you know, I think Angel reacted in a way that any of us would react in a moment like that.
Tyler Marsh
After the game, Angel remained composed when addressing the altercation, whereas Caitlin defended her decision to foul Reese hard, stating it was a strategic move rather than a malicious one.
You know, it’s either Angel gets wide open two points or, you know, we send them to the free throw line. Nothing malicious about it. It’s just a good take foul. Every basketball player knows that.
Caitlin Clark
This isn’t the first time Reese and Clark have been at the center of a heated WNBA moment.
Their rivalry dates back to their college days when Angel’s LSU defeated Caitlin’s Iowa in the 2023 NCAA Championship, sparking debates about competitive fire and sportsmanship.
While some fans criticized Caitlin’s foul as too aggressive, others argued it was a standard play in a physical league. Similarly, Angel’s response highlighted both players’ intensity in the game.
Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese could be one heck of a rivalry if Angel Reese was good at basketball… pic.twitter.com/aHaj4VL4N4
— ฿₳₮₮ⱠɆ ฿ɎⱤĐ (@BattleByrd) May 18, 2025
Caitlin Clark Reacts to WNBA Upgrading Foul to Flagrant 1 in Heated Clash with Angel Reese
The WNBA is already living up to its hype, with rising stars Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese reigniting their rivalry in a physical showdown during a game.
Caitlin became the center of controversy after a foul she committed against Angel was upgraded to a Flagrant 1, which sparked debate among fans and analysts.
The rising athlete got tangled up in a physical exchange in the third quarter of the game, leading to officials reviewing the play.
It was just a good play on the basketball. I’m not sure what the ref saw to upgrade it, and that’s up to their discretion. It’s a take foul to put them at the free throw line. I’ve watched a lot of basketball in my life, that’s exactly what it was. I wasn’t trying to do anything malicious. That’s not the type of player I am.
Caitlin Clark
Aliyah Boston stepped in to separate the two, preventing further escalation. Clark later acknowledged Aliyah’s quick intervention, crediting her teammate with diffusing the tension.
The WNBA ruled that Caitlin’s foul met the criteria for a Flagrant 1, and WNBA crew chief Roy Gulbeyan explained the decision.
Okay, the foul on Clark met the criteria for Flagrant Foul 1, for wind up, impact, and follow through for the extension of the left hand to Reese’s back, which is deemed not a legitimate basketball play, and therefore deemed necessary contact.
Roy Gulbeyan
After the foul, there is a physical taunt technical on Boston and a verbal technical on Reese, which offset.
Additional Information
- Angel Reese, the daughter of Angel Webb and Michael Reese, was born on May 6, 2002, in Randallstown, Maryland.
- Caitlin Elizabeth Clark, the daughter of Brent Clark and Anne Nizzi, was born on January 22, 2002, in Des Moines, Iowa.
- Angel majored in interdisciplinary studies at Louisiana State University, whereas Caitlin majored in marketing at the University of Iowa.
