Angel Reese Calls Caitlin Clark Foul a ‘Basketball Play,’ Blames Refs After Loss

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JUNE 16: Angel Reese #5 of the Chicago Sky reacts after fouling Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever during the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 16, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

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Angel Reese impressed with a double-double during the Chicago Sky’s 91-83 loss to the Indiana Fever on Sunday, but it was her flagrant foul on Caitlin Clark that will likely generate plenty of discourse in the aftermath.

“Basketball play, I can’t control the refs,” she told reporters when asked about the play in question. “They affected the game, obviously, a lot today.”

Anything involving Reese and Clark is going to receive additional attention given the high-profile nature of their rookie seasons and overall connection to each other that date back to college.

They played each other in the 2023 national championship game in college, and Reese led her LSU Tigers to a victory and then celebrated by pointing to her ring finger and breaking out the “you can’t see me” celebration that Clark herself often did.

However, Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes earned some revenge with an Elite Eight win over LSU this past season.

The rivalry reached another level in their first WNBA matchup on June 1 when the Fever won 71-70 in a game that was defined by Sky guard Chennedy Carter knocking Clark to the ground. She was issued an away-from-the-play foul in the moment, and the WNBA upgraded it to a flagrant upon review.

Whether it was Carter refusing to answer questions about Clark and then criticizing her on social media or Reese being fined $1,000 for not making herself available to the media in the aftermath of the loss, the game led to plenty of back-and-forth in the aftermath.

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Reese did speak to reporters after Sunday’s loss, but it wasn’t all about Clark.

She also said, “I’m not used to losing like this, but I’m gonna be mad and sad about it or I’m going to get up and figure out what I can do better.”

Chicago is just 4-9 on the season and has struggled in the early going of what figures to be a rebuilding year. But there are plenty of promising pieces in place, including notable rookies in Reese and Kamilla Cardoso.

They both notched double-doubles in the loss with the former posting 11 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and two steals and the latter finishing with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

As long as they both continue to improve with more experience, the future figures to be much brighter for Reese and the Sky.