Angel Reese's Flagrant 1 Foul: The incident with Caitlin Clark during Fever rematch

It was another opportunity for Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese to face off. Chicago Sky took on Indiana Fever in the WNBA. The game was not going to end without some kind of drama. Clark and Reese, the biggest stars in the 2024 WNBA rookie class, have received a lot of attention this season, just months after their last NCAA games, and they've lived up to the anticipation. A month into the season, the two are leading the Rookie of the Year competition. 

The rematch, however, was about more than just them, as Chicago sought to end its losing run and Indiana sought to start its first winning streak of the season. In a rivalry like theirs, both sides would go all out. While the Fever and Sky produced the much-anticipated rematch, with Indiana coming out on top, it also sparked additional debate over Caitlin Clark's rough play. This time, the controversy centred on Reese. 

Late in the third quarter of the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever game, Izzy Harrison and Reese defended Clark's drive to the hoop. While Harrison got the block, Reese missed her attempt. She missed the ball and ended up hitting Clark's head instead. The rookie was given a common foul, which was quickly elevated to a flagrant 1 for needless contact.

Angel Reese to win Rookie of the Year award

Almost immediately, Angel Reese faced backlash on social media, with some labelling the interaction an, "assault" on Clark. The previous encounter between the Sky and the Fever ended similarly, with Chennedy Carter's questionable hip-check on the Indiana star. During their post-game news conferences, Clark and Reese were asked about the momentum-shifting foul, as was expected.

Reese is establishing herself as a serious contender for Rookie of the Year, despite her issues with the foul call and the actual game. In the loss, she had her sixth straight double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds.