Ariel Powers beef with Cheryl Reev. It is Ariel Powers, the new player for the Indiana Fever who they just signed and her beef with Cheryl Reev. And if you guys are wondering why this is relevant, um the Indiana Fever tonight are in fact playing the Minnesota Links. So, the WNBA thought things couldn’t get messier, but here we are.
 
Indiana Fever’s new recruit Ariel Powers just reignited her beef with Cheryl Reev. And trust me, it’s pure chaos. From old grudges to new shots being fired, this isn’t just about basketball anymore. It’s personal. Question is, who’s really winning this feud, Ariel or Cheryl? Let’s break it down. Do you think Ariel Powers will prove Reeve wrong on the court? Or will this beef end up hurting the Fever more than helping? Let me know in the comments.
 
The Indiana Fever have signed Aerial Powers to a 7-day hardship contract. A very spicy but very capable player. So, let’s go over everything there is to know about Ariel Powers. Now, let’s be real. When the Indiana Fever signed Ariel Powers, most fans had the same reaction. Wait, didn’t she and Cheryl Reef practically hate each other? Oh, yes.
 
This isn’t some friendly rivalry. This is straight up bad blood. And now the WNBA has a fresh storyline to throw in our faces. Powers back on the floor, this time wearing Indiana colors while Cheryl Reev has to coach against her. Cue the drama. It just dawned on me, man, that Cheryl Ree and Ariel Powers, man, was going at it when she was on that team.
 
Now, she was signed to that team. I think what on in 2022, she was actually their top scorer. Now that I think about it, she was their top score. And all of a sudden, I don’t know, they was just clashing a little bit. And then I remember Ara Pal was just coming out and just saying, “Hey, I want to go to a different team.
 
I want to be on another team.” She just blaintly told the world, “I don’t want to be here anymore,” basically. And here’s the setup. The Fever, already battered with injuries and chaos, decided to hand Ariel Powers a 7-day hardship contract. Why? because half the roster is in walking
Sophie Cunningham is out. Sydney Coulson is down. Ary McDonald is hurt. And Odyssey Sims just tweaked something, too. Basically, the Fever locker room looks more like a hospital ward than a playoff team. They needed bodies desperately. So, who do they call? Aerial powers. Had Cheryl Reeve actually coming out and saying some slick stuff about her.
 
So, it was crazy what was going on between the two. And it boiled over so bad that Cheryl Ree actually took her out of the game and started making her play like 10 minutes, 12 minutes a game. Now, she did get injured in 2022 and then she had to come back in 2023 off of that injury. So, it was kind of like a probably like a Aaliyah Edwards moment a little bit with Kiki Erin where she kind of lost her starting position.
 
So, it was kind of like that, too. You’re taking your top score, by the way, your top score and making her play less minutes. I don’t know what was going on between the two, but man, they did not like each other. Now, here’s where things get juicy. Ariel Powers didn’t just magically appear out of nowhere. She’s been around.
 
She’s been a proven scorer in the league. And yes, she was once the top scorer for Cheryl Reeves Minnesota Links. And what happened? She got benched. Reeve and Powers clashed so badly that by the end Ariel was playing 10, maybe 12 minutes a game. Not because she wasn’t talented. She absolutely was, but because Reeve decided she couldn’t deal with her anymore.
 
That’s how toxic it got. And we’re not talking about little disagreements here. We’re talking about Reeve openly throwing shade, powers clapping back, and the whole situation spilling into the public eye to the point where Ariel was basically saying, “Get me off this team. I don’t want to be here anymore.
 
You don’t usually see players air that out while still under contract, but Powers made it clear. And Reev, well, she wasn’t exactly inviting Ariel over for dinner either. Y’all, when I tell you she better not be sitting by me, this will be crazy. We getting closer and closer to the door. [Music] Excuse me. Oh, this is my seat, sir.
 
Okay. [Music] [Music] Hey, hey, hey. How you doing? [Music] How crazy. Now she’s switching with her wife. Crazy. One of the funniest yet most telling moments of that feud came off the court. There was literally a flight where Ariel Powers and Cheryl Ree had to sit next to each other. Guess what happened? Reeves switched seats with her wife just so she wouldn’t have to sit beside Powers.
 
You can’t make this up. That’s not just professional tension. That’s I can’t even stand breathing the same recycled airplane air as you. That level of pettiness is elite. Fast forward to now and guess what? Ariel is with the Indiana Fever. The same Indiana Fever that Cheryl Reev already has beef with because of Caitlyn Clark.
 
Remember, Reev was one of the people who left Caitlyn Clark off the Olympic roster. And Indiana fans haven’t exactly forgiven her for that. So, now you’ve got a double whammy. Caitlyn Clark and Aerial Powers on one side, Cheryl Reev and her powerhouse Lynx on the other. Oh boy.
 
Let’s talk about why this is such a powder keg. Cheryl Reev has been salty all season about the MVP conversation. Indiana showed up to a game wearing Kelsey Mitchell MVP shirts, surprising Mitchell herself. Kelsey, were you aware of what your teammates were going to do in terms of the t-shirt? No. Oh my goodness. I was taken back. I was uh I was it was fun. It was funny.
 
Uh I was very humbled. I was grateful for my group. Um I love the people I play with and um to know that they would go out their way to make something like that happen for me. It means a lot more than people know because um I have been here the longest I have. You know, everything that people talk about I have been and to know that my teammates kind of like see me as, you know, I I have value somewhere and I feel like they make me feel like, you know, I’m important to them and vice versa.
 
And so that value means everything to me. And um it was meant as a show of support, but Reev wasn’t having it. She went full glasses on top of the head mode, lecturing the media that MVPs come from the best team. And guess what? Her links are the best team. She threw shade at Kelsey Mitchell at AA Wilson and basically said, “Nafiza Collier is the MVP, period.
 
” Jess Shepard became the 19th player in WBA history to record a triple double uh with less than at least 11 field goal attempts. We were just speaking last time out about role players and their strengths and how they’re really a huge component to championship picking teams. Um, you know, recently with Fee being out, there’s been a lot of talk online and, you know, as far as media and fans as far as the MVP race.
 
I was just kind of wondering from your perspective, game in and game out, what say you to those who try to discredit FE’s MVP uh race campaign because of having a talented roster in a you know, a franchise that cares about investment? Yeah. Um I mean, it’s pretty simple. We’re not 23 and four through the first, you know, whatever part of the season uh without without the Cure.
 
Uh we don’t have one of the greatest um 15game runs. um you know standing from last year to this year and then you know historic beginning to the season um and I’d say that you know because our roster is constructed in such a way to win a championship which is understanding you got to have more than an MVP on your team uh to be successful but um we’re not in the place that we’re in you know we have a I don’t know what our game lead is in first place MVPs come from the best team and this best team has a about a sixgame lead on the
 
rest of the league the feal is the reason why it’s pretty simple So, if you’re keeping score, Reev already thinks Indiana is delusional for hyping Mitchell. She’s already at odds with Clark. And now Indiana signs one of her former players, a player she literally couldn’t sit next to on a plane. Oh, the basketball gods have a wicked sense of humor. And here’s the kicker.
 
Ariel Powers isn’t some scrub off the bench. When she’s locked in, she can flat out hoop. Back in her Lynx days, she was putting up double-digit scoring nights, hitting big threes, and bullying her way to the rim. She averaged over 14 points per game in 2022. This isn’t some charity signing. The Fever may have stumbled into a wildcard weapon, and you better believe Powers is going to want revenge when she faces her old coach.
 
Now, let’s zoom in on why this beef even started in the first place. From what insiders say, it wasn’t about talent, it was about attitude. Reev is a control freak. She runs the links with an iron fist. And if you don’t fit her vision, you’re out. Powers. She’s a personality. She’s outspoken. She engages with fans online. She says what’s on her mind.
 
That’s not Reeves style. She wants players to fit into her system quietly, not rock the boat. And powers. Let’s just say she rocks the boat, capsizes it, and then tweets about it afterward. So, naturally, when the two collided, it was never going to be pretty. And it wasn’t. Reeve benched her, minutes plummeted, and the relationship basically burned to the ground.
 
And now that history is resurfacing just in time for Indiana and Minnesota to meet again. Think about what’s at stake here. For Powers, this is personal. She’s got the chance to prove that Reeve was wrong to sideline her. Every jumper she makes, every three she hits, every bucket she scores is going to feel like a how do you like me now moment aimed directly at Reeve.
 
And for Reev, oh, she’s going to coach this game like it’s the finals. She’ll tell her Lynx players to smother powers, frustrate her, make her look bad, because the last thing Reev wants is to watch aerial powers succeed on another team, especially Indiana. And let’s not forget Indiana is desperate. With half the roster down, they don’t have the luxury of easing powers in.
 
She’s going to get minutes whether she’s fully adjusted to the system or not. That means she’ll have the ball in her hands, she’ll be taking shots, and she’ll be in the spotlight. Perfect conditions for drama. It’s also wild when you think about the optics. The Fever already have the league buzzing because of Caitlyn Clark.
 
Every little thing Clark does gets magnified. And now they’ve added another lightning rod in aerial powers who’s stepping right back into the spotlight with a coach who can’t stand her. This isn’t just basketball. It’s soap opera TV with a scoreboard. And here’s where I have to laugh. The fever, bless their hearts, probably thought they were just adding depth.
 
They probably didn’t think about the PR storm they were stepping into. But now, every time Indiana plays Minnesota, the cameras are going to cut to Reeves’s face every time Power scores. every single time and the internet is going to have a field day with it. And look, I get it. Cheryl Reev isn’t completely wrong. Her links have been dominant.
 
Nfisa Collier has been an MVP level player. Jessica Shepard just dropped a triple double. Kayla McBride is a sniper who barely moves the net when she hits threes. That team is stacked. But here’s the thing. If you’re that good, why are you so pressed about Indiana? Why are you so pressed about aerial powers? That’s the funny part.
 
Reeve is coaching a juggernaut and yet she still finds time to shade the fever every chance she gets. That’s obsession, plain and simple. And let’s be honest, Powers knows how to use this to her advantage. She’s active online. She engages with fans. She’ll take this beef and run with it. A viral Tik Tok here, a snarky tweet there, and suddenly she’s the face of the Reeve revenge tour.
 
Every fan who doesn’t like Reeve, every Caitlyn Clark supporter still mad about Team USA, they’re all going to rally behind Powers. And that’s the last thing Reev wants. Powers turning into a folk hero for Indiana fans. So now here we are. Indiana desperate for wins. Powers desperate for revenge. Reeve desperate to prove she’s still in control.
And Caitlyn Clark waiting in the wings to return. It’s the perfect storm, and we’re only halfway through the story. Now, let’s get into how this beef could explode once the fever and lynx actually hit the court. Think about it. Ariel Powers checks in. The cameras immediately swing to Cheryl Reev, and you know she’s already rolling her eyes before Powers even takes her first shot.
 
That’s the type of tension that doesn’t just sit quietly in the background. It bubbles up and colors every possession. For Powers, this isn’t just a 7-day contract. It’s a stage. Every drive to the hoop, every jumper, every defensive hustle play is going to be viewed through the lens of can she get her revenge on Reev.
 
If she goes off for 20 plus points, the story line writes itself. Indiana’s overlooked recruit just embarrassed her old coach. If she struggles, you can bet Reeve will smirk in the press conference like, “See, that’s why she’s gone.” There’s no middle ground here. And let’s not pretend Reeve won’t weaponize her roster.
 
Minnesota is stacked with defensive depth. Kayla McBride, Courtney Williams, Bridget Carlton, they’ve got bodies to throw at Powers all night. You can almost hear Reeve telling her squad. Don’t let her get hot. Don’t give her that headline. And honestly, that’s part of the drama. The Lynx don’t just want to win. They want to make sure Powers looks ordinary.
 
But here’s the thing. Powers thrives on this kind of chaos. She’s never been the quiet system fitting player. She’s vocal, she’s fiery, and she feeds off proving people wrong. That’s why this matchup is so intriguing. She’s not walking into this as a role player just happy to have a jersey.
She’s walking in ready to prove a point, ready to torch the team that benched her, and ready to show Indiana fans why she belongs. The bigger question is whether the Fever can even support her in this effort. With so many injuries, Indiana is basically piecing together lineups with duct tape. Caitlyn Clark, still sidelined, would normally take defensive pressure off everyone else.
 
Aaliyah Boston, when locked in, is a dominant inside presence, but let’s be real, her inconsistency has been frustrating. And Kelsey Mitchell, she’s doing her best, but defenses know she’s the primary engine. That leaves Powers in an awkward but potentially golden spot. She’ll get more touches simply because the Fever don’t have much else.
 
It’s almost poetic. The same coach who once limited her minutes might end up watching her take on a massive role because Indiana has no choice. And that’s why fans are buzzing because this isn’t just about two people not liking each other. It’s about the basketball gods lining up the circumstances so perfectly that we have to pay attention.
 
Another layer to this, Indiana Fever fans already hate Cheryl Reev. They’ll boo her every time the links come to town. They’ll roast her online, and they’ll never forget the Caitlyn Clark Olympic snub. Add Aerial Powers into that mix, and suddenly Indiana has two reasons to turn every Fever versus Lynx matchup into a grudge match.
 
This isn’t just a regular season game anymore. It’s personal warfare with a scoreboard. Now, from Reeves perspective, she probably sees this whole storyline as beneath her. She’s coaching the best team in the league with Collier putting up MVP numbers, with McBride hitting net snapping threes, and with Jessica Shepard dishing out triple doubles.
 
On paper, she shouldn’t even care what Indiana does. But here’s the truth. She does care. Because if she didn’t, she wouldn’t be shading Indiana’s MVP talks. She wouldn’t be dismissing Kelsey Mitchell. and she wouldn’t be moving airplane seats to avoid powers. The receipts are there and Indiana, they’re loving every second of it.
 
They get to play the underdog role while fanning the flames of the feud. Every Aerial Powers bucket will be hyped like a championship moment. And every Fever fan will be screaming online about how Reeve underestimated her. It’s fuel. And if there’s one thing Indiana needs right now, it’s fuel. But here’s the twist. What if this beef actually motivates the Lyns even more? What if Reeves players buy into the narrative and treat every matchup with Indiana as a personal mission to back their coach? Suddenly, you’ve got the fever playing against not just a stacked
 
team, but a team emotionally charged to shut down one of their former teammates. That’s dangerous. This is why the upcoming games matter so much. It’s not just about playoff positioning anymore. It’s about pride. Can aerial powers rise above and show she still belongs at a high level? or will Cheryl Reeve get the last laugh, proving that she was right to move on.
 
The answer won’t just impact the box score. It’ll ripple through fan bases, social media, and maybe even Indiana’s future roster moves. So, here’s the question. Will Ariel Powers use this chance to shut Cheryl Reeve up once and for all, or will Reeves lynx expose her again? Either way, this isn’t just basketball.
 
It’s a full-blown soap opera with sneakers. Drop your thoughts in the comments. Smash that like button and subscribe for more WNBA drama breakdowns. The popcorn is ready.