Angel Reese needed to be held again by a referee after clashing with Caitlin Clark.
The Chicago Sky celebrity was driving for the basket when she was shoved to the bottom by bitter rival Caitlin Clark.
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Indiana Fever sensation Clark drew a flagrant foul and Reese was left fuming after hitting the hardwood.
She leapt to her toes and went for her faculty foe, who was protected by her teammates as she turned away innocently.
The act did not work as she obtained a flagrant, whereas each Reese and Clark’s teammate Aliyah Boston obtained offsetting technical fouls for his or her elements within the melee.
On the time of the play, the Fever have been up 56-42 on house court docket halfway by the third quarter and went on to set a franchise file opening-day vitory with a 93-58 demolition.
Throughout a stoppage in play, Clark defended herself.
“It is only a good take foul. Both Angel will get broad open 2 factors or we ship them to the free throw line,” she defined to ESPN’s Holly Rowe. “Nothing malicious about it. It is only a good take foul, each basketball participant is aware of that.”
Followers packing into the world hoping for fireworks have been handled early as Reese made a lay-up earlier than Clark shot her first three of the season from the emblem in reply, letting rip from 28 toes on a fastbreak.
There was a lot hype for this contest that followers have been seen lining up exterior the official merchandise retailer six hours earlier than tip-off.
A number of Indiana Pacers have been within the constructing to help their W counterparts.
“She’s simply so wonderful at what she does. I like being right here to help her,” mentioned Tyrese Haliburton of Clark.
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Even all-time NBA nice LeBron James bought in on the act.
He shared pictures of him and the Rookie of the 12 months on Instagram with the caption ‘Good luck and DO YOU per traditional this season!!!’
Placing palms on Reese could not have been what LeBron meant however he can be happy with Clark’s fierce need.
And he popped up once more to rejoice because the Fever talisman dropped a triple-double with 20 factors, 10 assists and 10 rebounds to start her 2025 season.
“TRIPLE DUB CC!! Nice approach to kick off the season,” Form James posted on X.
As soon as upon a time, the feuding stars — who’re doing wonders for WNBA rankings — have been pleasant foes.
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Reese even went out of her approach to reward Clark earlier than they each went professional.
“Oh my gosh, I like Caitlin. We have been competing since we have been in AAU,” Reese mentioned in 2023. “It was all the time enjoyable and it was all the time aggressive.
“Sooner or later, hopefully, me and her may even be teammates. As a result of she is a superb participant, and a fantastic shooter and a fantastic individual and nice teammate.”
The connection soured in a fierce NCAA girls’s nationwide championship matchup later that yr,
When Reese boldly taunted Clark in LSU’s 102-85 win, followers have been instantly divided between the longer term No.1 decide and Tigers celebrity.
Clark and Iowa bought on-court revenge within the 2024 Elite 8, as Clark dropped in 41 factors whereas Reese produced a double-double of 17 factors and 20 rebounds earlier than each turned professional on the identical time.
Of their first assembly, Clark obtained a tough shoulder shot from Chicago’s Chennedy Carter, who Reese later defended.
Reese insists that a lot of their rivalry is talked up by media and followers, though she could wish to rethink after Saturday’s occasions.
The world usually wants a “constructive” character and a “unfavorable” one in a narrative, Reese mentioned at LSU.
Relying on who you root for, Clark and Reese fill totally different public roles in 2025 because the WNBA returns.
“Understanding that the world goes to have lady and a foul lady,” Reese mentioned. “Simply understanding that that is simply what it’s and it is simply going to be what it’s.
“I am going to take that I will be the unhealthy man. However I do know I’ve grown girls’s basketball and I do know I am being constructive and I do know that I’ve impressed individuals.
“Me and Caitlin, we we have been cool. We have by no means had any points.”