The heated rivalry between WNBA rookies Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, which began during their NCAA days, continues to sizzle in the professional arena. The latest encounter between Clark’s Indiana Fever and Reese’s Chicago Sky reaffirmed that their competitive spirit shows no signs of waning.
In Sunday’s high-stakes game, Reese collided with Clark as the latter drove to the basket in the third quarter, resulting in a flagrant foul call. The incident swiftly ignited fervent discussions across social media platforms and is set to be a focal point on sports talk shows in the coming days. However, Clark’s first comments to the press post-game demonstrated her desire to steer clear of the brewing controversy.
Clark’s Steady Response
Following the Fever’s 91-83 triumph over the Sky, Clark addressed the much-discussed collision, which involved a jarring hit to her head and awarded her two free throws. Instead of lashing out at Reese, Clark took a composed and pragmatic stance on the incident.
“It’s just part of basketball, it is what it is,” Clark remarked. “She was trying to make a play on the ball and get the block.”
Clark emphasized the importance of capitalizing on the free throws that accompanied the flagrant call, stressing that converting those opportunities was her top priority.
“Those free throws, when you have to shoot them with nobody at the line, are kind of hard,” Clark elaborated. “It’s a little different than having people at the line, so I was trying to focus on making those.”
Clark’s concentration and determination were on full display during her stellar Father’s Day performance at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. She notched 23 points on a mere 11 shots, and nearly achieved a triple-double with nine assists and eight rebounds, underscoring her seamless adjustment to the WNBA’s demanding and physical style of play.