Stephen A. Smith Labels Caitlin Clark an Instigator After Recent WNBA Fights

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Dibyendu Mondal | Last updated Jun 18, 2025 2:10 PM ET

On Wednesday’s episode of "First Take", ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith weighed in on the tension surrounding Caitlin Clark following an intense WNBA showdown that including multiple physical altercations.

Fresh off an animated contest between the Indiana Fever and Connecticut Sun, in which Clark was involved in multiple physical altercations and was even shoved to the floor, Smith did not hold back his opinion.

“There’s also resentment towards her because she instigates resentment towards her…," Smith said on Wednesday. "The whole Angel Reese thing with her started because when Caitlin (Clark) was giving it to everybody else, she was the one waving her in their face."

Smith not only pointed to the skirmishes against the Sun but to broader incidents involving Clark and Angel Reese.

Smith has been going viral for his controversial takes and a solitaire moment from the NBA Finals Game 4 and this take will surely put more fuel into the fire.

Tuesday night’s game in Indianapolis was pure chaos. After Sun guard Jacy Sheldon poked Clark in the eye in the third quarter, Clark retaliated with a shove.

Sun veteran Marina Mabrey then body-checked Clark to the floor, triggering technical fouls and boos from the crowd.

"There's also resentment towards her because she instigates resentment towards her... The whole Angel Reese thing with her started because when Caitlin [Clark] was giving it to everybody else, she was the one waving her in their face."

—Stephen A. Smithpic.twitter.com/ufQ3gike3j
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) June 18, 2025

The tension escalated when Sophie Cunningham took revenge on Sheldon with less than a minute remaining in the game, drawing a flagrant foul that led to three ejections in the last-minute mayhem.

Had the people talking last night ️ pic.twitter.com/GKhUpMLm4R
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) June 18, 2025

Clark’s resilience shone through, though. The star followed the incidents with a logo three-pointer over the Sun bench, screaming at her rivals and rallying Fever fans. Clark eventually poured in 20 points, six assists and one rebound.

Smith’s comments echo a rising chorus of criticism amid the Clark–Reese rivalry which continues to stoke headlines.

Meanwhile, Fever coach Stephanie White put both officials and the league under fire for failing to control the game, lamenting that “everybody’s getting better, except the officials."

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

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