The WNBA’s 2025 season opener between the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky delivered more than just basketball—it reignited the fiery rivalry between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. A third-quarter incident, where Clark shoved Reese to the ground, sparked a heated confrontation, technical fouls, and a referee’s statement that has kept the drama alive. The Fever’s 93-58 rout of the Sky was overshadowed by this clash, which continues to fuel debates among fans and analysts.
Midway through the third quarter, Reese grabbed an offensive rebound, prompting Clark to slap her arm and shove her, sending Reese tumbling. Reese, visibly furious, leapt up and confronted Clark, who walked away as Fever teammate Aliyah Boston stepped in to separate them. After a video review, referee crew chief Roy Gulbeyan upgraded Clark’s foul to a Flagrant 1, citing “wind up, impact, and follow-through” and “unnecessary contact” that wasn’t a legitimate basketball play. Boston and Reese received offsetting technical fouls for their roles in the ensuing scuffle.
Gulbeyan’s statement, shared postgame, aimed to clarify the call: “The foul on Clark met the criteria for Flagrant Foul 1… deemed not a legitimate basketball play.” This explanation didn’t sit well with Clark, who insisted it was a “good take foul” to prevent an easy basket. “Either Angel gets a wide-open two points, or we send them to the free-throw line,” Clark told ESPN, emphasizing no malice was intended. Reese, meanwhile, offered a blunt eight-word verdict: “Basketball play, refs got it right, move on,” signaling her agreement with the call while urging fans to let it go.
The incident, however, is far from forgotten. Social media erupted, with lip-readers claiming Reese directed NSFW remarks at Clark, and former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III asserting Reese “can’t continue the lie that she doesn’t dislike Caitlin Clark.” The clash added fuel to a rivalry that’s been simmering since their college days, amplified by fanbases and media framing it as a cultural flashpoint. Despite both players downplaying personal animosity, the intensity of their on-court encounters suggests otherwise.
The game itself showcased Clark’s brilliance, as she notched a 20-point triple-double, while Reese contributed a 12-point, 17-rebound double-double. Yet, the scoreboard took a backseat to the narrative of their confrontation. Boston, unaware of her technical foul until postgame, was stunned, and Clark offered to cover her $200 fine—a gesture that highlighted team camaraderie amid the chaos.
This incident underscores the Clark-Reese rivalry’s grip on the WNBA’s spotlight. Scheduled for a prime ABC slot, the game was a calculated showcase of their star power. As the league leans into this drama, questions linger: Will Clark and Reese’s competitiveness continue to boil over, or can they keep it strictly basketball? For now, the referee’s statement has only fanned the flames, ensuring this saga remains a talking point as the season unfolds.
