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Saturday's WNBA season opener in Indianapolis reignited a rivalry that has grown far beyond college basketball. Caitlin Clark's flagrant foul on Angel Reese, midway through the Indiana Fever's dominant 93–58 win over the Chicago Sky—added another tense chapter to their ongoing saga, but both players insist there's no bad blood.
The foul occurred late in the third quarter as Reese drove to the basket. Clark wrapped her up and sent her sprawling to the hardwood. Officials reviewed the play and assessed Clark a flagrant 1. Both she and Reese received technicals after a brief on-court confrontation, with teammates stepping in to deescalate.
Referee Roy Gulbeyan explained the decision in the pool report: "The play met the criteria for a flagrant due to wind-up, impact, and follow-through. The extension of the left hand to the back was deemed unnecessary contact and not a legitimate basketball play."
Clark, 23, disagreed with the ruling but accepted it. "It was a smart foul. That's all. I went for the ball. I wasn't trying to be malicious," she said after recording a 20-point, 10-rebound, 10-assist triple-double—her third career triple-double. "Let's not make it something it's not." Reese downplayed the moment, calling it a "basketball play." She added, "Refs got it right. Move on."
Sky head coach Tyler Marsh defended his player's reaction. "I wouldn't say we were calming her down. Emotions were high, and her reaction was human," Marsh said, noting the support Reese has in the locker room and on the bench.
Stephanie White, the Fever's coach, echoed Clark's sentiment. "You don't want to give up an and-one in that situation. I thought it was a clean play on the ball." The moment shifted momentum. Indiana led 56–42 before the foul. Afterward, the Fever closed the quarter on a 9–0 run and never looked back.
Reese still posted an impressive stat line—12 points and 17 rebounds—but it was Clark's night. Her performance earned praise from LeBron James, who posted on X: "TRIPLE DUB CC!! Great way to kick off the season!"
This wasn't the first heated encounter between the two. In 2023, Reese committed a flagrant foul on Clark during their rookie seasons. That too came in the third quarter.
As the rivalry continues into the professional ranks, both players remain focused on their games—not the headlines. "I know I belong in this league," Clark told ESPN earlier in the week. "This year, I'm just having fun and staying confident."
