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Angel Reese addresses Caitlin Clark flagrant foul: 'Refs got it right'

Chandler Vesselsby: Chandler Vessels05/18/25ChandlerVessels
angel reese caitlin clark
Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Angel Reese believes the officials were right to call Caitlin Clark for a flagrant foul in Saturday’s matchup between the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever. The decision drew attention after Clark fouled Reese hard while to stop her from making a layup, causing the forward to jump up and come after Clark.

The referees ruled that the foul on Clark was a flagrant and also assessed technical fouls to Reese and Fever big Aliyah Boston. Reese was asked about the play postgame and gave a short but sweet answer, saying that she agreed with the call.

“Basketball play,” she said. “Refs got it right. Move on.”

Clark defended the foul herself during a sideline interview with ESPN’s Holly Rowe. She explained that she simply was trying to prevent Reese from scoring and easy layup and there was no “malicious” intent behind it.

“It’s just a good take foul,” she said. “Either Angel gets a wide open two points or we send them to the free throw line. Nothing malicious about it. It’s just a good take foul. Every basketball player knows that.”

Indiana cruised to a 93-58 win as Clark delivered a triple-double with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists to go along with four blocks and two steals. Reese also had a solid game to finish with a double-double of 12 points and 17 rebounds.

Clark and Reese have had a developing rivalry since college, when Reese led LSU to a national championship win against Clark and Iowa in 2023. That extended last year into their rookie seasons in the WNBA, which saw record numbers in both attendance and TV viewership.

That in mind, it wasn’t surprising to see many fans react to the incident between the two in Saturday’s game. Not everyone agreed with Reese that the refs got it right, either.

“In what world was that flagrant,” Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy wrote on X. “An absolute cop out call. WNBA is a joke.”

Regardless, it’s clear that both Clark and Reese have a bright future ahead of them with many years of stardom ahead in the WNBA. This is just one of many matchups fans will have the pleasure of watching and it will be an interesting journey to follow.

Reese and the Sky missed out on the playoffs last year but will look to take the next step forward into the postseason this year. They’ll aim to bounce back from the season-opening loss Thursday against the New York Liberty.