New replay reveals Caitlin Clark's fury at Angel Reese moments before foul that ignited their angry rivalry

Daily Mail​

20-05-2025

Caitlin Clark appeared frustrated that a foul on Angel Reese wasn't called just seconds before she sent her Chicago Sky rival tumbling to the ground on the WNBA 's explosive return over the weekend.
The incident left Reese seething and trying to confront the Indiana Fever star in what was another angry chapter in the rivalry that has gripped the WNBA since they both entered the league last year.
Clark's challenge on the Chicago Sky star was upgraded to a flagrant foul by referees, with Clark dismissing the punishment over what she said was 'a basketball challenge'.
But seconds before, Reese as lucky not to be called up for a foul that would have prevented the incident from happening at all.
As Reese's teammate Rebecca Allen took a shot for a three, Reese clearly pushes Fever's Natasha Howard out of her way before leaping up to collect the rebound.
Clark appealed to the referees who appeared not to notice Reese's move, which prompted the Fever star to dive across and block Reese from making an easy two pointer.
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But her grab turned into a push on Reese, who climbed back to her feet and tried to confront Clark as she walked away.
Players from both sides intervened to keep the two rivals apart, with Clark's teammate Aliyah Boston pushing her away from Reese and getting a technical for her troubles.
'It's just a good take foul,' Clark said in an interview with ESPN about the controversial moment. 'You know, either Angel gets a wide open two points, or we send them to the free-throw line.
Nothing malicious about it. It's just a good take foul. Every basketball player knows that.'
She also doubled down on that claim in her postgame press conference, urging reporters to 'not make it anything it's not.'
'I wasn't trying to do anything malicious. That's not the type of player I am,' Clark insisted.
'I went for the ball, and that's clear as day in the replay. You watch it... it shouldn't have been upgraded [to a flagrant foul]. But that's up the ref's discretion.'
Reese agreed with Clark's assessment in her own postgame press conference, while telling people to 'move on' from the incident in a blunt eight-word response.
When asked for her thoughts on the foul, she simply said: 'Basketball play, refs got it right, move on.'
Daily Mail exclusively reported over the weekend that Reese called Clark 'crazy as f***' in the aftermath as coaching staff stopped her from trying to confront her opponent.
It later emerged that the WNBA has since launched an investigation into allegations of racial abuse from fans aimed at Reese during the game, which Sky lost 93-58.
'"The WNBA strongly condemns racism, hate, and discrimination in all forms - they have no place in our league or in society,' the league said.
'We are aware of the allegations and are looking into the matter.'
Indiana Fever return to action on Tuesday night at home to Atlanta Dream.
The Chicago Sky, meanwhile, host champions New York Liberty on Thursday.