Tempers Flare Between Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark in WNBA Showdown

Tempers Flare Between Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark in WNBA Showdown

During a recent WNBA game between the Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky, former NFL star Robert Griffin III has voiced his opinion on the tension that unfolded between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese.

Tempers escalated when Reese, an outstanding sharpshooter for the Fever, committed a flagrant foul on Sky forward Clark. This moment became one of the highlights in the context of Indiana’s 93-58 blowout victory.

Griffin shared his thoughts on social media, noting that the incident laid bare some underlying tensions. He stated, “After watching Caitlin Clark’s flagrant foul on Angel Reese and the aftermath, there is no way Angel Reese can continue the lie that she doesn’t dislike Caitlin Clark. I know what hatred looks like. Angel Reese HATES Caitlin Clark. Not some basketball rivalry hate either. Hate.”

A Heated History

The rivalry between Clark and Reese has deep roots, tracing back to the 2023 NCAA women’s basketball national championship. Despite the fiery nature of their rivalry, both players chose to downplay the recent incident following the game.

Clark shared her perspective with ESPN’s Holly Rowe after the third quarter, insisting there was “nothing malicious” behind the foul. She emphasized that it should not be perceived as anything significant.

“Let’s not make it something that it’s not,” Clark declared. “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.”

Reese echoed similar sentiments, labeling the confrontation simply as a “basketball play.”

Referee Insights on the Incident

While both players downplayed the intensity of the moment, Fever head coach Stephanie White remained firm in her belief that Clark’s foul on Reese was a straightforward play on the ball. However, crew chief Roy Gulbeyan provided an alternate perspective.

Gulbeyan explained, “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 unnecessary contact.” He continued by addressing the technical fouls that ensued, stating, “After the foul, there is a physical taunt technical on Aliyah Boston and a verbal technical on Reese, which offset.”

Player Performance

In terms of individual performance during the game, Clark notably finished with her third career triple-double. She scored 20 points, collected 10 rebounds, and provided 10 assists. Meanwhile, Reese impressed with another double-double, racking up 12 points and securing 17 rebounds.

This recent bout between Clark and Reese is indicative of the fierce competitiveness that defines women’s basketball. As the WNBA season progresses, fans can expect more high-stakes matchups that may further develop the rivalry.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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