Caitlin Clark called for flagrant foul on Angel Reese in Fever-Sky, and she deserved it
Caitlin Clark was upset after being whistled for a flagrant foul on Angel Reese.
Any matchup between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese is guaranteed to generate a ton of attention. The two stars gave us one of the most thrilling women’s college basketball national championship games in recent memory, and their WNBA rivalry is already off to an intense start.
Clark’s Indiana Fever and Reese’s Chicago Sky met in the 2025 WNBA season opener on Saturday afternoon. As the Fever were racing out to a big lead, the two stars got tangled up in the third quarter leading to a flagrant foul call on Clark as she tried up wrap up Reese on a layup.
The refs originally called a common foul on Clark. After review, Clark was given a Flagrant-One, which meant Reese got two free throws and Chicago got the possession. Reese and Fever big Aliyah Boston were each given technical fouls after the review, which were off-setting. Watch the play here.
Caitlin Clark received a flagrant foul on this play.
— ESPN (@espn) May 17, 2025
Aliyah Boston and Angel Reese received offsetting technical fouls. pic.twitter.com/jzQYEW92TW
Reese immediately shot up from the floor and tried to get in Clark’s face, but the Fever star walked away. Clark let out her own frustrated reaction after the refs decided it was a flagrant foul.
Here’s another look:
Caitlin Clark assessed a flagrant-one on this play. Double tech on Aliyah Boston and Angel Reese — those fouls offset. pic.twitter.com/yPxoEW9wC3
— hank (@Brian_Haenchen) May 17, 2025
Reese didn’t appreciate the foul.
Angel: "You crazy as fuck!" https://t.co/Lw2yOqEkZ5 pic.twitter.com/v5ApiPRMQ2
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) May 17, 2025
Reese and Sky head coach Tyler Marsh each handled the call well after the game:
Angel:
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) May 17, 2025
"Basketball play, refs got it right, move on" https://t.co/jZF5WfGWMh pic.twitter.com/BsoTZ4f0Hp
#Sky HC Tyler Marsh on the flagrant foul Angel Reese received from #Fever’s Caitlin Clark:
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) May 17, 2025
“Ummm … basketball play.” | @TheAthleticWBB pic.twitter.com/AeUiA1UEVl
The ABC broadcast team of Rebecca Lobo and Ryan Ruocco both said the refs got the call right by ruling a flagrant foul on Clark. It looked like Clark wrapped her up legally at first, but there was a slight shove at the end that constituted a flagrant. WNBA refs don’t like to call a lot of flagrant fouls, but they were right to call this one. The intensity on the court settled down a bit after the call.
This is the second flagrant foul between Clark and Reese during their WNBA careers. Last season, Reese was called for a flagrant foul on Clark after hitting her in the head on a layup attempt.
The Fever went on to a blowout win over the Sky. Indiana looked excellent in the season opener. The Sky have a long way to go. Every matchup between Clark and Reese remains must-see TV.