Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese (Photos via ESPN)

Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have picked up right where they left off. In fact, they’ve actually ramped things up, as the former Iowa Hawkeyes star showed her rival a new side to her in their opening game on Saturday afternoon.

Clark, who found herself on the end of some harsh physicality during her rookie season, spent her offseason getting stronger in the gym and wasted little time sending a message to Reese and any would-be bully, hitting the Sky forward with a hefty foul late in the contest.

The Fever and Sky faced off to open their 2025 WNBA seasons in what was a no-brainer scheduling decision for the league. The game lived up to the hype in terms of the expected feistiness, but it was an easy win for Indiana, who blew Reese and the Sky out 93-58.

With less than five minutes left in the third quarter, Reese was attempting to score from the post after snatching a rebound but was fouled by Clark, who sent her sprawling.

Angel Reese Really Sold It After Getting Fouled By Caitlin Clark

Caitling Clark and Angel Reese (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

If we’re being honest, Reese’s seemed a bit theatrical as the foul, while hard, didn’t look like it should have sent her flailing the way she did.

She made it very clear that she didn’t appreciate the hit, springing up and snapping on Caitlin, while the referee and other Fever players got between them.

They can’t claim there’s nothing going on after this.

Angel Reese’s Mom Faces Major Backlash Over Controversial Caitlin Clark Comment

Angel Reese with her mom (Photo Via Instagram/@angelreese5)

The buzz around Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese has never really died down since their headline-grabbing NCAA championship showdown in 2023. Now, with both stars squaring off again this Saturday in the WNBA when the Indiana Fever take on the Chicago Sky, the rivalry has found fresh fuel- this time from off the court.

The latest flare-up started with a post from Angel Reese’s mother, Angel Webb Reese, who stirred the pot on social media just days before tipoff. Clark’s fans were already amped after nearly 15,000 packed the stands for a recent Indiana Fever preseason game. But Reese’s mom wasn’t impressed, and she made that clear in a pointed message on X, formerly Twitter.

Fan Reactions Spark Heated Debate

Caitlin Clark (Photo By Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

“Aww that certain fan base looking in the stands celebrating ‘attendance’ while others are looking up in the rafters celebrating championship banners,” Reese’s mom wrote. “We ain’t the same. Different year same haters. Have a great day.”

That post immediately set off a wave of heated responses. Fans didn’t hold back, calling out the tone and timing of the message.

“Mom is racist. No wonder her daughter acts the way she does,” one user replied.

Another said, “Angel Reese mom sucks big time.”

A third fan wrote, “Someone needs to tell Angel Reese’s momma that we are not the same…”

Reese’s mother hasn’t responded to the criticism, and her original post has since limited replies. But the comment clearly struck a nerve, injecting extra emotion into an already hyped matchup.

While both Clark and Reese have spoken respectfully about each other in public, their on-court battles are anything but calm. Their competitive fire draws in viewers and sparks fierce debate, both online and in the stands. The two young stars are reshaping the energy around the WNBA, and Saturday’s game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse promises another intense chapter.

Love it or hate it, this rivalry is lighting up conversations and filling seats like never before. Whether the buzz fuels the players or weighs them down is still uncertain, but one thing’s undeniable: the basketball world won’t be able to look away.