Clark foul upgraded to flagrant

New York Times

17-05-2025

Clark posted her third career triple-double and was also given the first flagrant foul of her career for a hard take on Reese Getty Images
Caitlin Clark posted the third triple-double of her career as the Indiana Fever opened their WNBA season with a dominant home win over the Chicago Sky.
Clark had 20 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and four blocks, while Aliyah Boston chipped in with 19 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks. Indiana held Chicago to 17 points or fewer in each quarter, showing off their newly strengthened defense.
Angel Reese led the Sky with 12 points and 17 rebounds. Chicago's shooting struggled throughout the game, making just 29 percent of their field goals.
In what's sure to be the most talked-about moment from today's game, Clark was called for a flagrant foul, the first of her career, on Reese during the third quarter. Reese took exception to the hard play and was kept from pursuing Clark by Boston and the referees.
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Q3 4:38 - Fever 56, Sky 44
Replays show that Clark was frustrated that Reese had shoved Howard and not been called for a foul. They also show that Clark gave Reese an extra shove right after her foul.
For that extra shove, Clark's foul is upgraded to a flagrant one. Boston, who got in between Reese and Clark, and Reese are given offsetting technical fouls.
Reese misses her first flagrant free throw, much to the delight of the Indiana crowd, before making her second. Getty Images
Here we go! This is the rivalry everyone wants to see.
Angel Reese just got fouled hard by Caitlin Clark, causing Reese to fall to the floor, and Reese took exception. When she got up, she went right at Clark before the officials separated the players and their teams. The refs are reviewing the play.
Big prediction from ABC/ESPN WNBA analyst Rebecca Lobo: She thinks Caitlin Clark can finish with a double-digit assist average in 2025. Only Courtney Vandersloot (10.0 apg in 2020) has done that. Getty Images
Aliyah Boston with an impressive first two-plus quarters. She has 10 points and seven rebounds and she's thrown a few impressive passes, too, even if she doesn't have an assist to show for it.
Q3 7:00 - Fever 50, Sky 38
Boston finds Mitchell with a great feed but Mitchell misses the ensuing layup. Indiana's struggles with shots from point-blank range carries over from the first half.
The Fever atone on their next possession, though, as Clark has a similarly nifty feed for Howard, who makes a reverse layup.
Q3 7:45 - Fever 48, Sky 38
The Sky are finding their scoring touch. Reese makes a driving layup and roars, followed by Atkins drilling a 3 and Cardoso getting to the free-throw line.
Q3 8:53 - Fever 47, Sky 32
Mitchell finds Howard for a layup as the Fever make the first bucket of the second half.
Q3 10:00 - Fever 45, Sky 32
We're back in action at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis! WNBA
Indiana Fever 45, Chicago Sky 32 Field goals: 17/38 - 13/45
17/38 - 13/45 Field goal percentage: 44.7% - 28.9%
44.7% - 28.9% 3-pointers: 4/12 - 4/16
4/12 - 4/16 3-point percentage: 33.3% - 25.0%
33.3% - 25.0% Free throws: 7/9 - 2/4
7/9 - 2/4 Rebounds: 23 - 23
23 - 23 Offensive rebounds: 3 - 6
3 - 6 Assists: 8 - 10
8 - 10 Steals: 6 - 3
6 - 3 Blocks: 6 - 4
6 - 4 Turnovers: 6 - 7
6 - 7 Fast break points: 8 - 8
8 - 8 Points in paint: 22 - 12
22 - 12 Fouls: 6 - 9 Instagram
LeBron James showing love to Caitlin Clark on Instagram: 'Good luck and DO YOU per usual this season!!!'
Caitlin Clark has a game-high 12 points, four rebounds, three blocks, three assists and three turnovers — filling up every part of the stat sheet. Boston has eight points and six rebounds, while Mitchell has nine points.
Reese leads Chicago with seven points and nine rebounds. Bec Allen has 7.
Caitlin Clark gives the people what they want as the first half ends, hitting a tough 3-pointer while moving to her left.
Chicago kept the score close for most of the half, but it very quickly ballooned to 13.
Q2 0:57 - Fever 40, Sky 30
The Fever commit three turnovers in a short span of time, two coming from Clark. No matter though, as Boston finds the bucket to push Indiana's lead into double digits.
Aliyah Boston should file away that fake handoff to Caitlin Clark because she can score a ton of points this year with that move. Teams are going to overplay Clark thinking Boston is going to kick back an interior pass to Clark and she's going to have more open highway than a Sunday in Montana. Getty Images
Q2 3:38 - Fever 36, Sky 25
Clark and Boston both hit midrange jumpers to pad Indiana's lead. Boston then stuffs Onyenwere's layup for her third block of the day.
A big ovation as the Indiana Pacers are shown in attendance here. The Eastern Conference Finals begin Wednesday. Getty Images
The thing that's already apparent with the Fever is added spacing. This is what bringing in sound pros such as Bonner and Howard can really give you. Most teams are going to have play honest against the Fever (outside of the rare teams with five great on-ball defenders) and that's going to give shooters such as Clark and Mitchell an extra spilt second. And that extra split second is what turns good shooters into great shooters.
Q2 7:42 - Fever 28, Sky 23
DeWanna Bonner with the pickpocket on Angel Reese and breakaway layup, perhaps reminding unfamiliar Fever fans that she's one of the most versatile defenders in the WNBA. The Sky call a timeout to regroup.
A little too much point forward from Reese for my taste. Her handle isn't quite tight enough to withstand pressure. I would rather her give up the ball if the transition opportunity isn't there than initiate in the half court.
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