Sky forward Angel Reese rips officials after loss to Fever

Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese Jacob Musselman/ For IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

Sky forward Angel Reese rips officials following loss to Fever

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Jun 17, 2024 8:55 AM ET

On Sunday, Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese received a Flagrant 1 after a hard foul on Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark late in the third quarter. Following the 91-83 loss, she claimed it was the wrong call.

"It was a basketball play. I can't control the refs," Reese said, via The Athletic's Nicole Auerbach. "They affected the game obviously a lot today. I'm always going for the ball. Y'all are going to play that clip 20 times before Monday."

Angel Reese on the foul that got upgraded to a Flagrant 1: "It was a basketball play. I can't control the refs. They affected the game obviously a lot today."

"I'm always going for the ball. Y'all are going to play that clip 20 times before Monday."
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) June 16, 2024

Some of Reese's frustration is understandable. The Sky were whistled for 21 fouls, compared to 17 for the Fever. Indiana also shot more free throws (19) than Chicago (14).

Still, it seems like officials made the right call on Reese. During the play, the forward's arm appeared to strike Clark's head instead of the ball. Auerbach also noted she felt it was "correctly upgraded" from a common foul to a Flagrant 1.

After review, Angel Reese called for a flagrant 1 for this foul against Caitlin Clark pic.twitter.com/xziAPf6ZGp
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) June 16, 2024

In this season's previous matchup between the Sky and Fever, Chicago guard Chennedy Carter shoved Clark in the back on an inbounds pass. The WNBA later upgraded it to a Flagrant 1 after officials failed to review it during the game, deeming it a common foul.

Considering there may be some tension between both teams, the league probably doesn't want it to escalate, which could be another reason they called the foul on Reese.

Despite the hard foul, Clark insists she's not upset about it and holds no ill will toward Reese.

Caitlin Clark on the flagrant 1 foul from Angel Reese: “It’s just part of basketball, it is what it is, she was trying to make a play on the ball.” pic.twitter.com/MOFsfAslNq
— Chloe Peterson (@chloepeterson67) June 16, 2024

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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