Caitlin Clark may not view the matchup between the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever as a rivalry game, but after Sunday’s intense contest, her teammate NaLyssa Smith might beg to differ, particularly following her direct confrontation with Angel Reese.
The game, which the Fever lost by a narrow one-point margin, escalated to a point where Smith felt compelled to publicly criticize the WNBA officials for their handling of the game.
The backdrop to this fiery encounter is the shared history between Smith and Reese, both of whom were coached by Kim Mulkey—Smith during her time at Baylor and Reese at LSU.
Mulkey’s coaching style, known for its spirited and aggressive approach, seems to have left its mark on both players, who exhibited a high level of competitiveness throughout the game.
From the onset, the tension was palpable, with Smith and Reese engaging in verbal exchanges that lasted the entire game.
Their interactions grew so heated that at one point, an official attempted to intervene and defuse the situation, only to be dismissed by both players who were clearly caught up in the heat of competition.
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The verbal sparring included Reese taunting Smith with claims of dominance after scoring a challenging basket in the first half, to which Smith responded in the fourth quarter by signaling that Reese was “too small” to defend her. Reese quickly retorted with a successful And-1 play, intensifying the rivalry on the court.
Despite the on-court hostilities, Reese stated postgame that there were no hard feelings off the court. They have a history of playing against each other, and she was so focused during the game that she didn’t even notice Smith’s gestures until her teammates pointed them out.
Yet, the game’s physicality and the referees’ decisions did not sit well with Smith. Frustrated by what she perceived as inconsistent officiating, particularly in a critical moment when she was called for a foul she felt was unjustified, Smith turned to social media to express her grievances.
Her repost echoed the sentiments of Chicago Sky fans, who have voiced their dissatisfaction with what they see as a pattern of unfair foul calls against their players throughout the season.
In terms of performance, Smith had a challenging game, finishing with 12 points, seven rebounds, and one assist over 28 minutes but also accumulating five personal fouls.
Conversely, Reese had a standout performance, scoring 25 points and grabbing 16 rebounds, continuing her impressive rookie season with a historic streak, all culminating in a dramatic one-point victory.
This game, marked by personal duels and controversial officiating, not only fueled the competitive spirit between Smith and Reese but also might have planted the seeds for a new WNBA rivalry.
