Chicago Sky star Angel Reese has reportedly declared war on Indiana Fever supporters. Sources close to the All-Star forward claim she’s preparing a formal petition to league commissioner Cathy Engelbert, urging a complete ban on all Fever fans attending games against the Sky starting in the 2026 season.

Reese’s radical proposal stems from what she describes as “relentless, soul-crushing booing” that she believes directly contributed to the Sky’s humiliating 93-58 defeat at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 17, 2025 – the league’s season opener and a highly anticipated clash pitting Reese against her longtime rival, Indiana’s Caitlin Clark.

The game, which drew record viewership and reignited the Reese-Clark rivalry that captivated college basketball audiences in 2023, quickly devolved into a powder keg of tension. From player introductions, the Indiana crowd unleashed a torrent of boos every time Reese touched the ball, escalating to deafening levels in the third quarter after Clark was slapped with a flagrant 1 foul for slapping at the ball during Reese’s rebound attempt.

Reese, who hit the deck dramatically before rising to confront Clark – sparking a brief scuffle involving Fever center Aliyah Boston – converted one of two free throws amid the roar of derision. The Fever would go on to dismantle the Sky by 35 points, exposing defensive lapses and offensive stagnation that Reese now pins squarely on the hostile atmosphere.”

Those boos weren’t just noise – they were weapons,” an insider quoted Reese as saying in a heated post-game rant, details of which leaked late Tuesday evening. “They fueled their fire, broke our rhythm, and straight-up stole our win. Four billion eyes were on us because of me, and they turned it into a hate fest. Next season? No more. Ban ’em all. Let the WNBA see what real focus looks like without that poison in the stands.”
Reese’s audacious call echoes her history of unfiltered commentary, from her self-proclaimed status as the “new face of Victoria’s Secret” earlier this year to her bold claims of outshining supermodels like Candice Swanepoel. But this marks a new low – or high, depending on one’s view – in the escalating feud between Sky and Fever fanbases. The May matchup wasn’t the first time Reese faced Indiana’s wrath; throughout the 2025 season, Gainbridge Fieldhouse became synonymous with anti-Reese chants, peaking during the Fever’s playoff push that saw them advance to the Eastern Conference Finals while the Sky languished in the lottery.

The backstory is as heated as a playoff overtime. Reese and Clark’s rivalry exploded during the 2023 NCAA championship, where Reese’s LSU Tigers edged Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes in a thriller laced with trash talk and gesture controversies. Fast-forward to the pros: Clark’s arrival in Indiana supercharged the Fever’s popularity, drawing massive crowds and boosting league attendance by 30% in the Hoosier State.

Reese, meanwhile, has been the Sky’s lightning rod – a double-double machine with global swagger, but also a target for critics who decry her as more hype than substance. The Sky’s dismal 2025 campaign (projected at 12-28 before the season’s end) only amplified the narrative, with Reese averaging 14.5 points and 10.2 rebounds but struggling in high-stakes moments.

What elevates this from mere post-loss venting to breaking news? Reports indicate Reese has already rallied support from Sky veterans like Kamilla Cardoso and Marina Mabrey, framing the petition as a stand against “fan toxicity” under the WNBA’s “No Space for Hate” initiative – a 2025 policy born from last season’s surge in online harassment and discriminatory incidents. Ironically, that very initiative was tested during the May 17 game, when allegations of racial slurs directed at Reese from the stands prompted a league-wide investigation. The WNBA probed audio, video, and witness statements for weeks, ultimately concluding in late May that it “could not substantiate” the claims.

Reese, however, remains unconvinced, telling confidants the boos masked deeper malice that sapped her team’s morale.

WNBA insiders are buzzing with reactions. “This is nuclear,” one Eastern Conference executive told Grok Sports anonymously. “Banning an entire fanbase? That’s not precedent; that’s pandemonium. But Reese has pull – her social media clout rivals Clark’s, and she’s got the Players Association whispering in her ear.”

The WNBPA did issue a supportive statement during the initial probe, calling for “swift action to ensure a safe environment.” Yet, Fever brass, including coach Stephanie White and CEO Mel Raines, have long defended their raucous supporters as passionate, not poisonous. “Our fans bring the energy that makes Gainbridge electric,” Raines said post-investigation. “We’re cooperating fully, but let’s keep the focus on the court.”

Social media erupted overnight, with X (formerly Twitter) ablaze in a mix of outrage and memes. Sky loyalists hailed Reese as a trailblazer fighting “corporate racism disguised as fandom,” while Fever diehards mocked the proposal as “sour grapes from a rookie who can’t handle the heat.” One viral post quipped: “Angel wants to ban boos? Next up: Petition to outlaw turnovers.” Clark herself, ever the diplomat, sidestepped the drama during a Tuesday presser, saying, “Basketball’s about competition, not crowds. We’ve all got noise to tune out.”

As the 2025 season winds down with the Sky eyeing the draft and the Fever chasing a championship, Reese’s gambit could redefine fan accountability in women’s sports. Will the WNBA indulge her? History suggests caution – the league fined the Sky $5,000 and Reese personally $1,000 earlier this year for media snubs after a Fever loss. But in an era where Reese’s “Bayou Barbie” brand commands sponsorships from brands like Victoria’s Secret and beyond, ignoring her might prove costlier.

Stay tuned: Reese’s full petition is expected to drop by week’s end, promising to make next summer’s Sky-Fever tilts the most anticipated – and potentially fan-free – showdown in WNBA history. For now, one thing’s clear: In the Reese-Clark saga, the real MVPs might just be the microphones catching every boo, every barb, and every bold declaration.