Source: Emilee Chinn / Getty
Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark have been constantly compared since they first faced off in the Women’s NCAA championship two years ago.
Now, both have graduated to the WNBA and on Sunday, their teams, the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky, faced off.
Angel Reese was called for a flagrant 1 for this foul on Caitlin Clark
(via @CBSSports)pic.twitter.com/8JdiqzD2dC
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 16, 2024
Clark’s Fever bested Angel’s Sky 91-83 in their second professional matchup, as she dropped 23 points. But things got a bit heated beyond the box score when Clark was driving to the basket, and Reese attempted to swat the ball from behind. Reese’s block attempt wasn’t successful, and instead, hit Clark in the head, causing her to fall to the floor.
It was ruled a flagrant foul, and Reese took issue with the ruling after the game and knew that a foul against Clark would get a ton of publicity even though it was just a basketball play.
Postgame Press Conference: June 16 https://t.co/Y2Z92JsChW
— Chicago Sky (@chicagosky) June 16, 2024
“Basketball play, I can’t control the refs. They affected the game, obviously, a lot tonight.” Reese said. “I’m always going for the ball. But y’all are going to play that clip, what, 20 times before Monday?”
Clark also downplayed the foul after the game, agreeing it was a clean play because Reese was just focused on playing good defense.
Caitlin Clark on why a lot of people watch her and Angel Reese play:
“I think what she’s [Reese] has done with her platform has been absolutely incredible. She has an entire fanbase that has supported her and what she did at Maryland and then LSU. Obviously, l’ve played her… pic.twitter.com/kYYGY1rRaE
— Vanshay Murdock
(@VanshayM) June 16, 2024
“It’s just a part of basketball,” she said. “It is what it is. Just trying to make a play on the ball and get the block. It happens.”
Despite getting into foul trouble, Reese still scored 11 points, grabbed a team-high 13 rebounds, and dished out five assists, tying a WNBA rookie record with her sixth consecutive double-double.
See how social media is reacting to the WNBA’s hottest rivalry and flagrant foul below.
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