Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark Clash in WNBA Season Opener

The longstanding rivalry between WNBA stars Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever and Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky escalated during the 2025 season opener when Clark committed a hard foul on Reese, resulting in a Flagrant 1 foul—the first of Clark's career. Following the foul, Reese aggressively pursued Clark, leading to a heated on-court altercation that required teammates and referees to intervene, with technical fouls assessed to Reese and Clark's teammate Aliyah Boston. The intensity between the two players stems from their college rivalry, as Reese's LSU team narrowly defeated Clark's Iowa Hawkeyes in the 2023 NCAA Championship before Iowa won a rematch in 2024. Fans and commentators have reacted strongly to the incident, with some criticizing Reese's response as an attempt to gain attention, while others noted the mutual hard play between the rivals in previous encounters. Both players have downplayed the hostility as part of competitive basketball, emphasizing the physical nature of their matchups. This episode adds another chapter to their fierce competition, which continues to captivate fans and shape the dynamic between the Fever and Sky.