The latest chapter in the growing rivalry between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese has stirred discussion far beyond the basketball court.
On Saturday, the two young WNBA stars faced off in their season opener, with Clark’s Indiana Fever dominating Reese’s Chicago Sky in a 93-58 win.
Yet it wasn’t just the scoreline or stats that captured attention – it was a controversial foul late in the third quarter that set social media ablaze.
As Reese drove for a layup, Clark made contact in an attempt to prevent an easy score. The result was a physical collision that sent Reese to the floor and led to a flagrant 1 foul being assessed to Clark. Reese, visibly frustrated, stood up and moved toward Clark before being restrained. She received a technical foul for her reaction.
Both players were quick to move past the incident in their postgame interviews. “It’s just a good take foul,” Clark explained. “Either Angel gets a wide open 2 points or we send them to the free throw line. Nothing malicious about it.” Reese echoed a similar sentiment, saying, “Basketball play, refs got it right, move on.”
Family steps into the fray as social media reacts
But not everyone was ready to let it go.
On Sunday, Kristi Webb, Angel Reese’s aunt, took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice her thoughts – and to question Clark’s decision-making on the play.
“Can somebody please help me understand… if you up by 20 pts… what is the purpose of the hard foul? Just a question,” she posted.
While her comment appeared more rhetorical than confrontational, it nonetheless added fuel to an already buzzing conversation online. Webb‘s remark came amid a wave of fan reactions debating whether Clark‘s foul crossed the line or was simply part of standard gameplay.
It’s unlikely Clark will directly respond to the post, but it underscores how the rivalry between the two players has grown into something larger – one that now involves not just teammates, coaches, and fans, but family as well.
With four more Fever-Sky matchups scheduled this season, including a much-anticipated rematch on June 7, this storyline is far from over.
And if early signs are anything to go by, each encounter between Clark and Reese is bound to carry high energy – and higher stakes.
While both stars continue to insist that what happens on the court stays there, the added voices from outside the locker rooms show just how personal – and public – these games have become.
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