Caitlin Clark downplays flagrant foul on Angel Reese in Fever's win over Sky | Fox News

Caitlin Clark may have become the first player in WNBA history to post a 20-point triple-double in a season opening game on Saturday, but it was her flagrant foul on Angel Reese that got the most attention.

In the third quarter of Indiana and Chicago’s Eastern Conference battle, Caitlin knocked Angel to the floor with a hard “take” foul that was eventually upgraded to a Flagrant 1 after refs took a look at it.

Speaking on the play during an in-game interview with ESPN’s Holly Rowe, Clark maintained there was no malicious intent behind the contact.

“It’s just a good take foul,” Clark explained. “Either Angel gets wide open two points or we send ’em to the free throw line. Nothing malicious about it. It’s just a good take foul, every basketball player knows that.”

After the game, referee Roy Gulbeyan was asked by the Indy Star‘s Chloe Peterson about the upgrade and here’s what the crew chief had to say:

Okay, the foul on Clark met the criteria for Flagrant Foul 1, for wind up, impact, and follow through for the extension of the left hand to Reese’s back, which is deemed not a legitimate basketball play, and therefore deemed unnecessary contact. After the foul, there is a physical taunt technical on Boston and a verbal technical on Reese, which offset.

Clark would certainly disagree given her comments to Rowe, but it’s the call the officials went with and the reigning Rookie of the Year admits “that’s up to their discretion.”

Caitlin Clark at the microphone.

UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT – SEPTEMBER 25: Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever looks on during a press conference after losing 81-87 to the Connecticut Sun in Game Two of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs first round at Mohegan Sun Arena on September 25, 2024 in Uncasville, Connecticut. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)

Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images

Angel Reese didn’t have much to say about it during her postgame media availability. Telling reporters, “Basketball play. Refs got it right. Move on.”

Both sides will have to wait until next week to do that when the Fever take on the Atlanta Dream and the Sky travel back home to battle the New York Liberty.