“I’m Just Here to Compete”: Caitlin Clark Breaks Silence on Heated Moment with Angel Reese After WNBA Opener

Indianapolis, IN — Following a fiery WNBA season opener that had fans buzzing and social media on fire, Indiana Fever’s rookie star Caitlin Clark has finally addressed the much-discussed altercation involving Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese.

The matchup, which featured two of the most polarizing and talented young players in the game today, delivered on the hype — but also sparked controversy after a heated on-court exchange and a flagrant foul that saw Reese make hard contact with Clark in the third quarter.

Now, Caitlin Clark is speaking out.

Clark’s Calm Response: “It’s Just Basketball”

In her post-game press conference, Clark remained composed and focused when asked about the incident.

“It’s part of the game,” she said. “Basketball is physical. I grew up playing that way. I’m just here to compete and help my team win.”

She did not directly criticize Reese for the foul, instead choosing to emphasize her commitment to professionalism and resilience on the court.

“I’ve been playing with a target on my back for a long time. This isn’t anything new,” Clark added.

The Foul That Sparked Debate

During a fast break in the third quarter, Angel Reese delivered a hard body-check on Clark as she attempted a layup. The officials immediately assessed a flagrant foul, and tensions simmered as both benches stood up in anticipation.

While there was no physical retaliation, the crowd erupted, and online reactions were swift — with many fans accusing Reese of intentionally targeting Clark, while others defended it as hard-nosed playoff-style defense.

Social Media Explodes: Fans Take Sides

Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok were ablaze with clips of the moment, accompanied by split opinions. Hashtags like #TeamClark and #DefendReese trended within hours.

Some WNBA veterans weighed in. Sue Bird commented, “That’s playoff energy in May — love the fire, but gotta protect the players.” Others noted the growing rivalry between Clark and Reese is exactly the kind of drama that fuels ratings and grows the league.

Angel Reese Has Yet to Issue a Full Statement

As of this writing, Reese has not given an in-depth response to the flagrant foul. However, in a cryptic Instagram story, she posted: “All love. Just hooping.”

Fans and analysts alike are waiting to see whether the WNBA will issue further statements or disciplinary action. Some reports suggest the league is reviewing “potential hateful commentary” surrounding the incident, adding another layer to the already charged storyline.

A Rivalry That’s Here to Stay

Clark and Reese’s rivalry isn’t new. It dates back to their iconic NCAA Championship clash when Reese’s “you can’t see me” gesture toward Clark sparked nationwide headlines. Since then, both women have been under the microscope — celebrated, scrutinized, and compared endlessly.

But Clark, as always, appears determined to rise above the noise.

“I respect all the women in this league. Angel is a great competitor. We’re both just out here trying to win,” she said.

Up Next: The Rematch Everyone’s Waiting For

Fans won’t have to wait long for round two. The Fever and the Sky are set to meet again next month, and tickets are already surging in price. If this season opener was any indication, the next showdown could be even more intense — and just as unforgettable.

Fever star Caitlin Clark condemns fan comments that sparked investigation after win over Angel Reese, Sky

The WNBA launched an investigation in to reported “hateful fan comments” directed toward Sky forward Angel Reese in their game on Saturday

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark isn’t sure what exactly was said during their game with the Chicago Sky on Saturday.

“It’s super loud in here [during games],” she said on Monday.

But, after allegations of “hateful fan comments” directed at Sky forward Angel Reese surfaced and an investigation was launched, Clark is all for it.

“Although I didn’t hear anything, I think that’s why they’re doing the investigation,” Clark said. “That’s why they’re looking into it. It doesn’t mean nothing happened. So, you just trust the league’s investigation and I’m sure they’ll do the right thing.”

The WNBA launched an investigation into the comments on Sunday that were made during the Fever’s 93-58 win over the Sky. That was a contentious battle, too. Clark received a flagrant after a hard foul on Reese, which led to a bit of a skirmish in the third quarter. Reese and Aliyah Boston received offsetting technical fouls during the incident.

Clark defended her actions, and insisted there was “nothing malicious about it.” She also asked fans to “not make it anything that it’s not.”

“It was just a good take foul,” she said. “Every basketball player knows that.”

The investigation, the league said, is unrelated to the flagrant foul.

The Clark-Reese rivalry dates back to their college days, and allegations of racial and hurtful comments from the Fever fan base are not new, either.

Last season, former Connecticut Sun guard DiJonai Carrington accidentally poked Clark in the eye during a game — which is something both players said was unintentional. Carrington, though, received death threats, racial comments and more in the days that followed. Alyssa Thomas also said she had “never experienced the racial comments [like I have] from the Indiana Fever fan base.”

Clark has repeatedly denounced these types of comments and actions from fans since entering the league. She did so last season and again on Monday.

“There’s no place for that in our game, there’s no place for that in society,” Clark said. “Certainly we want every person who comes into our arena, whether player, whether fan, to have a great experience. … Hopefully the investigation, we’ll leave that up to [the league] to find anything and take the proper action if so.”

Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White echoed Clark’s comments on Monday, and said she made it clear to her team that they would cooperate fully with the WNBA’s investigation.

“There’s no place for that in our league. Whether it’s at home, whether it’s on the road, it doesn’t matter,” she said. “We want to encourage our players, our staff, to bring recognition to it in real time if it’s heard, if it’s seen or anything from that nature, but there’s just no place for it in our league. … Be a fan, don’t be a jerk. Be respectful and be passionate, but it’s not that hard to not be a jerk.”