A physical play reignites the rivalry
The Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese rivalry has produced plenty of memorable moments, from their college battles to their early WNBA matchups. But one 2024 meeting added another layer when a physical play near the basket brought officials into the spotlight.
The call quickly became a talking point, putting both rookies at the center of attention once again. Here’s a closer look at what happened, how the game unfolded, and why the moment remains part of their growing WNBA history.
Officials used replay to upgrade the call
The referees initially ruled the contact a personal foul before stopping to review the play. After replay, they changed the ruling to a Flagrant 1, which resulted in 2 free throws for Clark.
The WNBA’s 2024 rules allowed replay reviews for qualifying foul calls. The league’s rulebook defines a Flagrant 1 as unnecessary contact, distinguishing it from ordinary basketball contact when determining whether a flagrant foul applies.
Clark went to the line after the review
Clark took both free throws awarded after the Flagrant 1 ruling and made them. The points moved Indiana’s lead from 63-62 to 65-62 with 2:53 remaining in the third quarter.
The free throws were part of Clark’s 23-point performance in the game. She also recorded 8 rebounds and 9 assists, helping Indiana secure its second victory over Chicago that season.
Reese said she was playing the ball
After the game, Reese said she was attempting to make a block rather than intentionally hit Clark. She also criticized the officiating, saying the referees had affected the game after the foul was upgraded.
Reese finished with 11 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, two steals and five fouls. The double-double was her sixth consecutive, extending an important early-season statistical streak for the rookie.
Clark did not describe the contact as intentional
Clark said after the game that she believed Reese was trying to make a play on the ball. She described the incident as part of basketball and focused on making the free throws.
Clark finished the afternoon with 23 points, eight rebounds and nine assists. Her performance helped Indiana beat Chicago 91-83 and improve to 5-10, while the Sky fell to 4-9.
The game was their second WNBA meeting
The June 16 matchup was the second meeting between Clark and Reese in the WNBA. Indiana had already defeated Chicago earlier that season, making the rematch another matchup between two rookies.
Their professional matchups followed a college rivalry that began before either player entered the WNBA. Both were selected in the 2024 draft, with Clark going first overall to Indiana and Reese seventh to Chicago.
Their rivalry began before the WNBA
Clark and Reese became closely linked during their college careers, especially after LSU defeated Iowa 102-85 in the 2023 national championship game. Reese earned the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player honor, while Clark led Iowa with 30 points.
They met again in the 2024 Elite Eight, where Iowa defeated LSU 94-87. That game ended Reese’s college season and sent Clark’s Hawkeyes to another Final Four.
The 2024 rookie class added more attention
Clark entered the WNBA as the first overall pick after a record-setting Iowa career. Reese joined the league as the seventh selection after leading LSU to the 2023 national championship and a standout college career.
Their draft positions placed them on different teams but kept their matchup available during the regular season. The Fever and Sky met four times during the 2024 season.
The June incident followed another Clark controversy
The Flagrant 1 came two weeks after Chicago guard Chennedy Carter was involved in an off-ball collision with Clark during another Fever-Sky game. The WNBA later upgraded Carter’s foul to a Flagrant 1 after a league review.
That earlier incident had already placed physical contact involving Clark under heavy attention. The Reese play, therefore, became another notable moment from the teams’ 2024 meetings.
Reese reached five fouls in the game
Reese remained in the game after the Flagrant 1 review but later picked up her fifth personal foul in the fourth quarter. She finished with 31 minutes and 17 seconds played for Chicago.
Despite the foul trouble, Reese produced 13 rebounds and 11 points. Her five fouls were tied for the highest total on the Sky, while Kamilla Cardoso also finished with five.
Interesting fact: Toronto became the WNBA’s first franchise outside the United States when the league awarded the city an expansion team in 2024.
Indiana controlled the final result
The Fever maintained their lead and defeated the Sky 91-83 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Indiana led 63-62 when the Flagrant 1 occurred and expanded the margin during the final quarter.
Marina Mabrey led Chicago with 22 points, while Chennedy Carter added 18. For Indiana, Aliyah Boston scored 19 points and grabbed 14 rebounds as the Fever completed the victory.
Interesting fact: The WNBA currently has 15 teams, with the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire joining for the 2026 season.
The matchup remained a major WNBA storyline
The Clark-Reese matchup continued drawing attention beyond their college meetings and into their professional careers. Their 2024 games became part of a larger rise in interest around the WNBA’s new generation of stars.
In 2026, Clark remains with Indiana, and Reese plays for Atlanta. Their teams met again on August 17, when Indiana defeated Atlanta 95-91 in overtime, extending their professional head-to-head history.
The internet is also talking about Browns facing $86.2 million cap hit if they release Deshaun Watson.
The foul became one chapter in a longer rivalry
Reese’s Flagrant 1 against Clark was one reviewed play in a rivalry that began in college and continued into the WNBA. The ruling was based on the contact during Clark’s drive, not on a finding that Reese targeted Clark.
Both players moved on from the incident and continued their careers. In 2026, Reese earned another Player of the Week honor as Atlanta reached the playoffs.
In other news, WNBA players react to Caitlin Clark’s surprise sneaker reveal during Saturday’s game.
Like this slideshow if you’ve been following the Caitlin Clark–Angel Reese rivalry, and comment with your take on the Flagrant 1 call.
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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