Caitlin Clark
In a clash that felt more like a battle royale than a basketball game, Angel Reese went toe-to-toe with Caitlin Clark on Sunday. The tension hit its peak when Reese was slapped with a controversial flagrant foul after a hard hit to Clark. Check this out: (00:30 - 00:35)
Hard Foul
In her post game interview Reese didn't mince words, attributing the 91-83 loss to the referees' questionable calls. (00:10 - 00:15) "The refs affected the game a lot," Reese vented. "We went up strong so many times and didn’t get the calls. Some people got a special whistle."
The flagrant foul that set off Reese came when her forearm struck Clark's head during a drive. "It was a basketball play," Reese insisted. "I can’t control the refs. They affected the game a lot tonight... Y’all are going to play that clip 20 times before Monday."
Clark, ever the competitor, brushed it off as just another physical play. When asked for a comment on the foul she said, “What’s going through my mind? I need to make these two free throws. That’s all I’m thinking about. It’s just part of basketball. It is what it is,” “She’s trying to make a play on the ball, and get the block. It happens.”
Fans React
This is far from the first time the two have had a clash; their intense rivalry traces back to their college days. Reese's LSU Tigers bested Clark's Iowa Hawkeyes for the NCAA championship in 2023, a game that featured Reese's now-iconic "you can’t see me" taunt.
One fan even went on to tweet, Caitlin Clark is 3-0 verse Angel Reese Since this, in reference to the taunting.
While many fans were quick to come to Caitlin’s defense, Reese also has fans in her corner. One commenter that stands out is Stephen A. Smith, who came to her defense saying, "I also think to some degree they're looking for something from Angel Reese because if you recall when Chennedy Carter bumped or shoved Caitlin Clark to the floor, you got footage of Angel Reese getting up and clapping and stuff.”
Shortly after the first foul against Clark, Reese went on to repeat her action resulting in her fourth foul and sending her to the bench.
Bounty On Clark
This clash is part of ongoing tensions between the teams, which started when Reese's teammate Chennedy Carter hit Clark in a previous game, Reese was even seen celebrating the hit from the sideline. Despite the hate, Angel has embraced her role as the antagonist, even wearing Joker-themed sneakers to emphasize her stance.
But it’s not just Reese and Chennedy coming for Clark, it seems like the entire Chicago Sky team has it out for her. In the most recent bout, Clark was not only knocked down by Reese’s hard foul, but can be seen getting tangled up, and double teamed by her competitors. Check this out: (00:14 - 00:24)
It seems like everytime she has the ball, it’s all eyes on Clark which was pointed out in this tweet stating: It's unreal how much attention Cailtin Clark demands when she has the ball in her hands. All 5 Chicago Sky defenders collapsed on her, and she still managed to make a play. Just incredible.
So, what does this all mean for the WNBA? The league is heating up, rivalries are getting fiercer, and the drama is off the charts. Stay tuned, because if this season is any indication, we're in for one wild ride.