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Sheryl Swoopes Doesn’t Hold Back on Caitlin Clark After Heated Foul on Angel Reese

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Tristan Afshar | Last updated May 19, 2025 6:31 PM ET

In what’s becoming one of the most talked-about rivalries in the WNBA, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese’s latest clash is now drawing commentary from some of the game’s biggest legends.

During an appearance on the Gil’s Arena show, Hall of Famer Sheryl Swoopes weighed in on the flagrant foul Clark committed against Reese over the weekend — and why Clark’s behavior afterward didn’t sit right with her.

With just minutes left in the third quarter of the Chicago Sky vs. Indiana Fever matchup, Clark swatted Reese hard on the arm while trying to strip the ball, knocking her to the ground. The officials ruled it a flagrant foul, and video of the brief altercation immediately went viral.

Caitlin Clark received a flagrant foul on this play.

Aliyah Boston and Angel Reese received offsetting technical fouls. pic.twitter.com/jzQYEW92TW
— ESPN (@espn) May 17, 2025

Swoopes took issue not with the foul — but with what Clark did after

“You’re going to foul somebody… I was always taught you don’t give up an easy basket. And that’s what I thought Caitlin did,” Swoopes began. But then she made it clear: “My thing with that was — stand in it. Don’t walk away.”

Swoopes didn’t criticize the physicality of the play. In fact, she praised the refs for getting it right and called it a “hard foul” that should’ve ended there. But what truly bothered her was Clark’s refusal to own the moment.

So...Sheryl Swoopes basically wanted to see a fight between Angel and Caitlin....Also she thinks Aliyah Boston shouldn't have grabbed Angel Reese, she should've grabbed CC.....Even though CC was walking away. pic.twitter.com/oJ2l9h1XrG
— C.C. Soldier ❤️ (@PackerBacker_JD) May 19, 2025

“I also have always been taught when I played — go grab your own teammate, don’t come grab my teammate,” Swoopes added, referencing Aliyah Boston stepping in between Reese and Clark.

Swoopes closed with a sharp but fair assessment: “I didn’t have a problem with the foul. I got issues with all the other stuff.”

Her words echo what many around the league have been saying — the play was one thing. How it was handled afterward may be what keeps this rivalry burning all season.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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