Tempers erupt as Caitlin Clark commits flagrant foul on Angel Reese in Sky's 93-58 loss to Fever

INDIANAPOLIS — Whether it wants to admit it or not, the WNBA got the fireworks it wanted in the Sky’s season opener Saturday against the Fever — and especially in the explosive rivalry between Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark.

What was otherwise a typically scrappy game, which the Fever ran away with 93-58 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, turned nasty with 4:38 left in the third quarter when Clark committed a flagrant foul by shoving Reese to the floor and sparking an altercation that required Sky security to help keep the players separated.

Reese drove past Clark to the basket, then Clark fouled her with both arms and pushed her to stop her from scoring. Reese immediately jumped up and went at Clark as she walked away before officials and players intervened.

The play initially was whistled as a common foul, and both players were livid on their respective benches during the replay review. Reese clapped her hands at the announcement that it had been
upgraded to a flagrant foul.

‘‘Basketball play,’’ Reese said. ‘‘Refs got it right. Move on.’’

When Reese was asked a follow-up question about the play, a Sky staff member interrupted before she could answer.

‘‘Angel reacted in a way that any of us would’ve reacted in a moment like that,’’ Sky coach Tyler Marsh said.

He said there wasn’t any contentiousness before that play, then appeared to bite his tongue as he started and stopped a couple of times before settling on: ‘‘Yeah, it was a physical game. We’ll keep it there.’’

Officials also called a double technical foul on Reese and Fever forward Aliyah Boston. Boston appeared to be trying to restrain Reese when they made contact with each other.

In an in-game interview with ESPN, Clark said her foul was ‘‘nothing malicious,’’ and she and Fever coach Stephanie White said it shouldn’t have been a flagrant. Crew chief Roy Gulbeyan said Clark’s action was ‘‘not a legitimate basketball play’’ and ‘‘unnecessary contact’’ and clarified that Boston’s technical was for taunting and Reese’s was a ‘‘verbal technical.’’

Reese split two free throws after the foul, and Marsh briefly took her out after that. When she returned late in the third quarter, Clark went to the bench at the same time.

They played against each other without incident in the fourth quarter. Reese got a breakaway basket against Clark with the Fever ahead 72-49, and Clark simply ducked out of her way.

The Reese-Clark rivalry dates to the NCAA women’s championship game in 2023, when Reese led LSU to the title over Clark’s Iowa team, and it has been compelling as the players’ careers have skyrocketed. Both were All-Stars as WNBA rookies and are trying to lead their teams back to championship contention.

There has been tension, such as when former Sky guard Chennedy Carter got a flagrant foul for shoving Clark in a game last season, but Saturday was when it went from a rivalry to all-out bad blood.

And there’s much more to come.

As the WNBA looks to capitalize on two of its most famous players, the Sky and Fever face each other five times this season, including for the debut of ‘‘Rivals Week’’ in August. Their next matchup is June 7 at the United Center.

Reese played solidly but unremarkably, finishing with 12 points on 5-for-14 shooting, 17 rebounds and five turnovers. Clark, meanwhile, rolled up a triple-double with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

When asked what the Sky needed to do better defensively against Clark, Marsh replied: ‘‘Everything. When she can get it going scoring-wise and facilitating, she’s tough to stop. It’s never a one-person effort when it comes to a player like her; it’s a group effort.’’

Clark also had a lot of help. While Reese and Ariel Atkins (11 points) were the only Sky players to score in double figures, Clark had three teammates chip in 15 points or more.

‘‘It’s May,’’ Reese said. ‘‘We don’t want to look the same in July.’’