Angel Reese didn’t have any issues with Chennedy Carter’s unnecessary foul on Caitlin Clark.
In fact, she seemed to be celebrating it.
After the Chicago Sky scored late in the third quarter Saturday, while Clark was waiting for the inbounds pass, Carter came up from behind and pinned her to the floor with her shoulders.
“I didn’t expect it,” Clark said after the Fever’s 71-70 win over the Sky. “It’s what it is. It’s a physical game. You make free throws and you go on the offensive and I think that’s what we did.”
But when Clark went down, Reece jumped up from the Sky bench to praise his teammate for the cheap foul.
“Yeah, that was not a basketball kind of play,” Clark said, “but I’ve got to play through it and that’s what basketball at this level is all about. I thought we played really physical. We missed some bunnies around the rim, so hopefully it comes down to the fourth quarter.”
Late in the match, Reese launched his own attack on Clark.
The former Louisiana State University star appeared to elbow Clark late in the fourth quarter, sending him to the floor again.
Clark is likely to be a target for heavy play this season.
“I don’t know what it is, but I feel like I’m getting beat up,” Clark said in a news conference after receiving a technical foul during Thursday’s 103-88 loss to the Storm.
The Fever’s win on Saturday marked the first matchup between Clark and Reese in the WNBA, but their rivalry dates back to their collegiate days at the University of Iowa and Louisiana State University, respectively.
Reese became an internet sensation after waving his ring finger in Clark’s face during the 2023 NCAA Tournament final.
While the pair insist there is nothing personal about their rivalry, the recent foul on Clark may indicate otherwise.
Clark had 11 points, eight rebounds and six assists for the Indiana Fever.
Reese contributed eight points and 13 rebounds for the Sky.
Prior to Saturday’s matchup, the two teams had faced off in the Elite Eight just 61 days earlier, with Clark’s Hawkeyes dominating Reese’s Tigers.
It was inevitable that the two would continue their rivalry on the WNBA stage.
The next match is on June 16th.
