Over the weekend, the next chapter in the rivalry between Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese and Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark was written. The LSU and Iowa stars, who faced off in the last two NCAA Tournaments, played against each other for the second time as professionals on Sunday.
Just like in the first meeting, it was Caitlin Clark and the Fever coming away with a victory over the Chicago Sky. This time, it was a 91-83 victory, as Indiana is on a winning streak for the first time, winning two in a row and three out of their last four.
Both rookie stars made an impact on the court. Angel Reese scored 11 points with 13 rebounds, five assists, two steals and one block. Caitlin Clark had one of her best all-around games as a pro, scoring an efficient 23 points with eight rebounds, nine assists and two blocks.
But, the biggest storyline of the game was another hard blow to the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. In the third quarter, Angel Reese hit Caitlin Clark in the head as she drove to the basket.
Upon video review, the play was upgraded to a Flagrant-1 foul. It was something that the No. 7 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft disagreed with. After the game, she shared some comments on the play, believing it was a basketball play.
“I can’t control the refs,” she said. “They affected the game a lot tonight. … I’m always going for the ball. But y’all going to play that clip 20 times before Monday.”
Caitlin Clark didn’t believe there was any malice or intent to injure on the play either. She agreed with Angel Reese, saying it was just a basketball play as things like that occur sometimes in the heat of action.
“It’s just part of basketball. It is what it is. Trying to make a play on the ball, get the block. I mean, it happens.”
That makes it 2-for-2 in games between the Chicago Sky and Fever that a Flagrant-1 foul has been committed against Caitlin Clark. In the first matchup, Chennedy Carter gave her a cheap shot from behind on an inbound play.
Referees called it a common foul and it was not upgraded on the court. But, upon further review by the league, the infraction was upgraded and Carter was assessed a Flagrant-1 foul.
Fever head coach Christie Sides believes part of the reason Angel Reese was assessed a Flagrant-1 this time around was because of how the foul by Carter against Caitlin Clark was handled.
“The right call was made in that moment — flagrant 1,” Sides said. “Just make the right call in those moments and we can move forward. But when you don’t make the right call in those moments, that’s when there’s a problem. And they made the right call tonight.”
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