Caitlin Clark had the best quarter of her young WNBA career on Saturday afternoon vs. the New York Liberty. The former Iowa Hawkeyes superstar finished the first frame with 10 points on four-of-five shooting with three assists.
However, the Fever once again struggled on the defensive end. Indiana gave up 33 first-quarter points to the Liberty, led by Sabrina Ionescu’s nine points, all coming on three-point attempts.
The message from Fever coach Christie Sides after the first quarter’s showdown? Better defensive effort. Even ESPN’s Holly Rowe felt the need to tell Clark to step it up.
At the end of the first quarter, Rowe interviewed Clark to talk about her performance. During the interview’s final moments, Rowe issued a strong demand of Clark.
Rowe: “Alright, better defense please.”
Clark: “Yep, sorry!”
Did Holly Rowe cross the line? She probably shouldn’t be saying something like that to players, even if she might be right.
WNBA fans think Rowe crossed the line.
“i don’t like to talk poorly of media personalities or professionals bc everyone deserves grace but… i hate how comfortable holly rowe feels pointing out flaws in players like they don’t already know they need to work on it… it’s just public humiliation at that point,” a fan said on X.
Caitlin Clark knows she needs to play better on the defensive end. She doesn’t need sideline reporters coaching her during interviews.
Angel Reese (Photo via WNBA/Twitter)
Angel Reese seemed to have found her “special whistle” because it certainly was not blown when it should’ve during her most recent game.
The Chicago Sky had just done something that no other player in WNBA history has ever done before, but her making history became a footnote to one play during Thursday’s game against the Dallas Wings.
With less than four minutes to go in the third quarter, Reese intercepted a pass and found herself all alone as she dribbled the other way for an easy layup.
The replay of this moment showed that the dynamic rookie got away with multiple double dribbles and quite possibly a traveling violation on this one single play.
Yet, no refs whistled the play dead.
Another view from that play showed Angel Reese laughing hysterically, as she likely knew she had gotten away with multiple violations.
SHE’S SPECIAL 🌟
Angel Reese had a record-breaking performance today for the Chicago Sky:
16 PTS (7-13 FG)
18 REB (career-high)
8 OFF REB
3 AST
2 STL
ONLY rookie to ever record 7 consecutive double-doubles#WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/0DCg4s4uYj
Fans wasted no time taking to the comments and blasting the refs as well as Reese for this blatant violation that went unwhistled:
Despite the mishap in this play, Angel Reese is starting to pave her way at the professional level, especially over the past month. Since June 1, she’s averaged 13.4 points per game with 12.8 rebounds.
Angel Reese Did Something No Other Player In WNBA History Has Done
Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese snagged a rebound and layup against the Dallas Wings on Thursday, and with that, she became the first rookie in WNBA history to record a double-double in seven consecutive games.
In the contest, Reese finished with astounding numbers, racking up 16 points and 18 rebounds as the Sky ended their four-game losing streak, per ESPN.com.
