This past Saturday, Caitlin Clark kicked off her season with an impressive performance, not only claiming the third triple-double of her WNBA career but also making headlines for a controversial flagrant foul against her long-time rival, Angel Reese. The Indiana Fever dominated the Chicago Sky with a staggering score of 93-58, showcasing their strength right from the start.
With just 4:38 left in the third quarter and the Fever leading 56-42, a pivotal moment occurred when Reese secured an offensive rebound and charged toward the basket. Clark made hard contact with Reese's right arm, causing the Sky forward to fall to the ground, which resulted in Clark receiving a flagrant 1 foul. As tensions rose, Reese quickly got back on her feet, attempting to confront Clark, who turned her back while Aliyah Boston stepped in to separate the two players. This incident added an unexpected layer of drama to the game.
After the game, Caitlin Clark addressed the foul, stating, “Let’s not make it anything that it’s not. It was just a good play on the basketball. I’m not sure what the ref saw to upgrade it.” She emphasized that she had no malicious intent and described the foul as a "take foul," aimed at preventing an easy basket. Clark's new head coach, Stephanie White, supported her perspective, reinforcing the team’s commitment to tough defense, saying, “Nobody’s going to get anything easy against us.”
On the other hand, Angel Reese chose to downplay the incident, calling it a “basketball play” and asserting that the referees made the right call. The rivalry between Clark and Reese, which intensified after Reese's LSU defeated Clark's Iowa in the 2022-23 national championship, remains a focal point for fans and commentators alike.
Caitlin Clark's outstanding performance included a game-high 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, marking her third triple-double in professional play, adding to her impressive tally of 17 during her collegiate career at Iowa. She also recorded a career-high of four blocks, further solidifying her role as a significant player in the league. Meanwhile, Boston contributed significantly with 19 points and 13 rebounds, while Reese led the Sky with 12 points and 17 rebounds.
Another highlight of the game was Dewanna Bonner, who recently joined the Fever during the off-season. She scored seven points, propelling her past Tina Thompson into third place on the WNBA’s all-time leading scorers list, now totaling 7,489 points. Bonner expressed her emotions about this achievement, stating, “Being around that long, I kind of feel like I deserved that moment.”
Following Clark's foul on Reese, the Sky made a brief comeback, but the Fever quickly responded with a 9-0 run, ending the third quarter with a substantial 20-point lead. The final score of 93-58 not only marked a significant victory for Indiana but also tied for the second-largest margin in the franchise's history.
As the WNBA season progresses, all eyes will be on the evolving dynamic between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, as well as the continued growth of the Indiana Fever under the leadership of Coach Stephanie White. With their impressive opener, the Fever may very well be a team to watch this season.
