Any matchup between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese is guaranteed to generate a ton of attention. The two stars gave us one of the most thrilling women’s college basketball national championship games in recent memory, and their WNBA rivalry is already off to an intense start.
Caitlin Clark called for flagrant foul on Angel Reese in Fever-Sky, and she deserved it
Caitlin Clark was upset after being whistled for a flagrant foul on Angel Reese.
Ricky O'Donnell has covered basketball at all levels for more than a decade at SB Nation. He’s currently the Associate Director of Programming.
Clark’s Indiana Fever and Reese’s Chicago Sky met in the 2025 WNBA season opener on Saturday afternoon. As the Fever were racing out to a big lead, the two stars got tangled up in the third quarter leading to a flagrant foul call on Clark as she tried up wrap up Reese on a layup.
The refs originally called a common foul on Clark. After review, Clark was given a Flagrant-One, which meant Reese got two free throws and Chicago got the possession. Reese and Fever big Aliyah Boston were each given technical fouls after the review, which were off-setting. Watch the play here.
Reese immediately shot up from the floor and tried to get in Clark’s face, but the Fever star walked away. Clark let out her own frustrated reaction after the refs decided it was a flagrant foul.
Here’s another look:
Reese didn’t appreciate the foul.
Reese and Sky head coach Tyler Marsh each handled the call well after the game:
The ABC broadcast team of Rebecca Lobo and Ryan Ruocco both said the refs got the call right by ruling a flagrant foul on Clark. It looked like Clark wrapped her up legally at first, but there was a slight shove at the end that constituted a flagrant. WNBA refs don’t like to call a lot of flagrant fouls, but they were right to call this one. The intensity on the court settled down a bit after the call.
This is the second flagrant foul between Clark and Reese during their WNBA careers. Last season, Reese was called for a flagrant foul on Clark after hitting her in the head on a layup attempt.
The Fever went on to a blowout win over the Sky. Indiana looked excellent in the season opener. The Sky have a long way to go. Every matchup between Clark and Reese remains must-see TV.
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