Caitlin Clark downplays flagrant foul on Angel Reese in Fever's win over Sky

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Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark started her 2025 WNBA season with a triple-double in her staff’s 93-58 rout of the Chicago Sky Saturday.

Through the sport, Clark was known as for a flagrant foul after a tough foul on her rival, Angel Reese.

The star Sky center was offended with the foul by Clark and went after her in a heated alternate damaged up by Sky and Fever gamers. Clark walked away and by no means as soon as checked out Reese as Reese continued to stroll towards her.

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Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) fouls Chicago Sky ahead Angel Reese (5) within the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. (Trevor Ruszkowsk/Imagn Pictures)

Whereas it appeared tense on the court docket, Clark and Reese stated the foul wasn’t as dangerous because it appeared after the sport.

"Let’s not make it one thing that it’s not," Clark stated after dropping 20 factors, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. "It was only a good play on the basketball. I’m unsure what the ref noticed to improve it, and that’s as much as their discretion.

"It’s a take foul to place them on the free throw line. I’ve watched numerous basketball in my life. That’s precisely what it was. I wasn’t attempting to do something malicious. That’s not the kind of participant I'm."

ANGEL REESE, CAITLIN CLARK HAVE HEATED EXCHANGE AFTER HARD FOUL DURING SKY-FEVER GAME

Through the play, Reese obtained an offensive rebound, and Clark appeared to movement towards the referee that the Sky middle pushed off a fellow Fever participant. Clark then fouled Reese deliberately, hugging her to forestall a simple layup.

The ESPN broadcast debated whether or not Clark pushed Reese barely along with her left arm after committing the foul, which could have led to Reese’s offended response.

With out elaborating, Reese known as it a "basketball play" from Clark, a time period each gamers have used previously.

Reese struggled taking pictures in her season debut, scoring 12 factors on 5 of 14 from the sector, whereas grabbing a game-high 17 rebounds.

It was a short second, however contemplating the historical past between Clark and Reese, it’s one other chapter in a rivalry that goes again to their school days. The Fever and Sky are actually rivals due to the historical past between Clark and Reese.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) passes round Chicago Sky ahead Angel Reese (5) Saturday, Might 17, 2025, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Indiana Fever defeated the Chicago Sky, 93-58. (Imagn)

Final season, the Fever took three of their 4 matchups, which included a number of laborious fouls that led to nationwide debate.

Stephanie White, who obtained her first win as head coach of the Fever, additionally commented on Clark’s foul.

"No one’s going to get something straightforward in opposition to us," White stated. "We'll be a troublesome defensive staff. I assumed it was a transparent play on the ball as nicely."

"The foul on Clark met the factors for flagrant foul 1, for wind up, influence and follow-through for the extension of the left hand to Reese’s again, which is deemed not a official basketball play, and subsequently deemed pointless contact," crew chief Roy Gulbeyan stated of Clark.

"After the foul, there's a bodily taunt technical on Boston and a verbal technical on Reese, which offset."

Chicago Sky ahead Angel Reese (5) reacts to a flagrant foul by Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) Saturday, Might 17, 2025, throughout a sport at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. (IMAGN)

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The sold-out crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse cheered as Reese missed the primary of her two free throws earlier than Chicago retained the ball after the technical foul.