Tempers Flare as Clark-Reese Rivalry Escalates

I was excited to watch Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever start the regular season in the WNBA on Saturday afternoon. A bonus? The Fever were playing the Chicago Sky, and Clark's appointed rival Angel Reese. The game was a blowout with the Fever pulling away easily. And then...the rivalry went to a whole new level.

What Happened Between Clark and Reese during Saturday's Game?

During the third quarter, Clark and Reese were under the Sky basket, and Angel had an open shot after getting an offensive rebound. Instead of simply letting her score, Caitlin Clark committed what is commonly known in basketball as a 'take' foul. She purposely fouled Reese so she couldn't score. Make her earn the two points at the free throw line. Reese was not pleased.

Caitlin was called for the foul, which was then upgraded to a flagrant foul. Reese and Clark's Indiana teammate Aliyah Boston got offsetting technical fouls. Reese was booed and missed her first free throw.

What Did Clark and Reese Say About the Play AFTER the Game?

The New York Post reports that Clark didn't want to make more out of the play than it was. She stated, "Let's not make it something that it's not. It was just a good play on the basketball." After the game, Angel Reese was asked about the play and said that it was "simply a basketball play" and moved on to the next question.

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Is This Rivalry Good for the WNBA?

I'm not so sure. Clark and the Fever improved to 4-1 against Reese and the Sky. So far, this matchup isn't really a rivalry at all. Sure, the two have a history dating back to their college days. But you can tell that Caitlin truly doesn't want to add fuel to the fire. The other part of this rivalry I don't care for is how it breaks down along racial lines.

ESPN reports that the WNBA is investigating hateful comments made towards Reese by fans in Indianapolis on Saturday. Listen, you can cheer your favorite players, and you can root against their opponents. But hateful and racist comments have no place in any game.

When Do the Fever and the Sky Play Again?

Fans won't have to wait long for the rematch. The Fever visit Chicago on June 7th.