Clark got another victory over Reese in their first match-up in the WNBA.
Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese reignited their college basketball rivalry in the WNBA this time for the first time as the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky went head to head, and it left Clark’s boyfriend Connor McCaffery far from displeased with the actions of Reese during her team’s loss.
The ex-Iowa Hawkeye has struggled to adapt to life in the professional game of basketball so far, only shooting for 20 or more points on two occasions as the league’s players look to make an example out of her since she’s regarded as the best talent around.
And that happened once again in the Fever’s 71-70 victory of the Sky when Chennedy Carter committed a rough foul before later taunting the 22-year-old, which got Reese celebrating from the bench, leaving Clark’s boyfriend quite annoyed.
Connor McCaffery took to X.com, formerly Twitter, to like a post that read, “Angel Reese hopping off the bench to throw a parade for Caitlin Clark’s murder is crazy lol,” although he did refrain from commenting directly himself.
At the time of the foul, Clark did appeal for the referees to review it and they called it a “common foul”, but the ex-Iowa Hawkeye wasn’t done talking about it yet as she explained how she reacted to the incident.
“I wasn’t expecting that,” said Clark, per Chloe Peterson on X. “But it’s just, ‘Respond, calm down and let your play do the talking.’ It is what it is.
Although she later said, as per Bleacher Report, “That’s just not a basketball play.”
Whilst Carter responded with, “I ain’t answering no Caitlin Clark questions.”
Who won the Clark-Reese personal rivalry?
The Fever left the court with their second win in their pocket whilst the Sky slipped below .500 in the Eastern Conference for the season following the 71-70 scoreline in favour of Caitlin Clark’s side, but how did she and Reese perform on a personal note?
Well, the overall first pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft posted 11 points, eight rebounds and six assists with one steal during her team’s win, whilst Reese delivered eight points, 13 rebounds and one assists with one steal in 30 minutes from her role as a forward.
CONFUSED Refs Don’t Know What’s Going On After Angel Reese Fouled! Chicago Sky vs Indiana Fever WNBA.
WNBA star Caitlin Clark blasted for ‘flop’ complaint against Chicago Sky
Many fans were unimpressed by Caitlin Clark trying to claim that the Chicago Sky flopped after she committed a third-quarter offensive foul, with TV commentators also disagreeing
Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark mimed a flopping motion to referees after committing an offensive foul with 8:21 on the clock in the third quarter of Sunday’s one-point loss against the Chicago Sky. But ESPN’s TV commentary team immediately called it a “clear” violation and joked that she should instead use her arms as an air-circulating fan in an overheating arena.
Viewers online also felt Clark made a misstep by accusing the Sky of flopping, particularly as it’s something she’s been called out for in the past.
“Maybe it’s just me, but, if I’m Clark, im not doing the flop signal arms,” wrote one fan. “No reason to fan those flames. Take your whistle and get back on defense.”
Another added: “No Caitlin Clark did NOT try and call out a flop the way she been flying all over the court all season……….”
Clark isn’t shy toward referees, picking up a series of technical fouls earlier this campaign for jawing at officials and getting into several back-and-forths during the last NCAA Tournament.
On Sunday, the first-year pro didn’t pick up any fouls in the first half but briefly found herself in a sticky situation when she was whistled for three personals in a short period of time in the second half.
(
Image:
Getty Images)
Otherwise, though, the Iowa product contributed at a high level for the Fever as she continued to adjust to the way WNBA defenses approach her. She surpassed 10 assists for the first time in her WNBA career – a mark that the 22-year-old regularly hit in college basketball.
Meanwhile, Clark continued to play a more efficient floor game than she did last month, shooting 5-of-11 from the field to keep her season percentage trending in a positive direction.
But after the Fever built a double-digit advantage early in the fourth quarter, Chicago fought back to tie the game inside the final three minutes behind Angel Reese’s ferocious offensive rebounding and inside scoring.
The Sky then took the lead as Reese and Chennedy Carter made clutch shots down the stretch. Despite missing several late free-throws, they held on to defeat Clark and Co., 88-87.
Clark finished with 17 points, 13 assists, six rebounds and four steals, playing every single minute of the game. Reese countered with a 25-point, 16-rebound effort that took her double-double streak to a rookie record eight consecutive outings.
“I’m a dawg, you can’t teach that,” Reese told ESPN on the court in a postgame interview. “I’m gonna go out and do whatever it takes to win every single night.