Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark’s ongoing rivalry intensified during the opening game of the 2025 <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/basketball/wnba/”>WNBA season, as Reese’s Chicago Sky suffered a heavy 93-58 defeat to Clark’s Indiana Fever. This match highlighted the fierce competition between the two athletes, drawing widespread attention with Reese’s determination and emotional moments underscoring the growing tension in this high-profile conflict.
Sharp matchup kicks off 2025 WNBA season
The Chicago Sky’s season started on a difficult note with a large margin loss against the Indiana Fever on the road. Caitlin Clark played a dominant game, registering a triple-double that showcased her all-around skills, while Angel Reese fought valiantly with 12 points and a commanding 17 rebounds. Despite Reese’s strong individual performance, the game took a physical turn when Clark shoved Reese, resulting in a flagrant foul.
The incident led to Reese falling hard to the floor, visibly shaken but refusing to back down. Following the game, the WNBA launched an investigation into alleged racial abuse targeted at Reese, adding further seriousness to an already heated rivalry. This confrontation reflects not just the competition on the court but the emotional and cultural battles both players have become entwined in.
The evolution of a fierce basketball rivalry
Reese and Clark’s rivalry first gained major attention during last year’s NCAA women’s basketball tournament. Reese was a standout for LSU, where her team aimed for back-to-back national championships but was ultimately eliminated by Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes, 94-87, in a memorable Elite Eight showdown. Reese posted a remarkable 17-point, 20-rebound double-double, only to foul out near the end, highlighting the intensity of the matchup.
Since transitioning to the WNBA, both players have carried their rivalry into the professional arena, gaining fans and detractors alike. At 22 years old, Reese’s strong, unapologetic presence on and off the court continues to divide opinions, while Clark remains a lightning rod for controversy given her own competitive style and media attention.
Support from teammates amid relentless scrutiny
Despite facing media criticism and personal attacks, Angel Reese has found solidarity in the voices of her college teammates. Following the painful NCAA loss to Iowa, Flau’Jae Johnson and Hailey Van Lith, both former LSU teammates, publicly defended Reese’s character and resilience. Johnson described Reese as misunderstood by the public and emphasized the strength she sees daily.
“Everybody can have their opinion on Angel Reese, but y’all don’t know her. Y’all don’t know Angel Reese. I know Angel Reese,”
—Flau’Jae Johnson
During the same post-game conference where Johnson spoke, a visibly emotional Reese wiped away tears, revealing the toll the rivalry and criticism have taken. Johnson praised Reese as a caring and confident teammate, whose presence inspires those around her.
“I know the real Angel Reese and the person I see every day is a strong person,”
—Flau’Jae Johnson
Johnson also acknowledged the harsh media portrayal that often casts Reese as a villain but insisted this mischaracterization does not reflect the reality of who Reese is. Her defense of Reese highlighted the positive impact Reese has had on her teammates’ performances and confidence.
“Just to see how the media ridicules her, this is my sister here and I’m so proud of her. How they like to twist it and call her the villain, y’all don’t know Angel… She just makes me a better player, and that’s what great players do.”
—Flau’Jae Johnson
Hailey Van Lith shared similar sentiments, portraying Reese as mentally tough and dedicated despite facing widespread negativity.
“Angel’s one of the toughest people I’ve been around,”
—Hailey Van Lith
“People speak hate into her life, I’ve never seen people wish bad things on someone as much as her. And it does not affect her. She comes to practice every day, she lives her life every day, she lives how she wants to live.”
—Hailey Van Lith
“And she don’t let nobody change that. And that’s the key to life right there.”
—Hailey Van Lith
Angel Reese’s personal challenges and messages
Angel Reese has openly discussed the personal difficulties she has faced since rising to national prominence, including receiving death threats and being subjected to sexualized and threatening messages. Despite this, she remains resolute in her commitment to stand strong for her teammates and herself.
“I’ve been attacked so many times, death threats, I’ve been sexualized, I’ve been threatened, I’ve been so many things, and I’ve stood strong every single time,”
—Angel Reese
“I just try to stand strong for my teammates because I don’t want them to see me down and not be there for them. All this has happened since I won the national championship. It sucks, but I still wouldn’t change.”
—Angel Reese
“The little girls that look up to me, hopefully I give them some type of inspiration — keep waking up every day, keep being motivated, staying who you are, stand 10 toes, don’t back down, and just be confident.”
—Angel Reese
Transitioning from college star to professional player
After the disappointment in the 2024 NCAA tournament, Reese faced a crossroads: return to LSU for an additional season or enter the 2024 WNBA Draft. Choosing the latter, she was drafted seventh overall by the Chicago Sky, marking the start of her professional career.
During her rookie season, Reese quickly made an impact, earning a selection to the WNBA All-Star Game and winning the Rookie of the Month award in June. She averaged an impressive 13.6 points, 13.1 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game before an injury in September against the Los Angeles Sparks cut her season short.
Though Caitlin Clark won Rookie of the Year ahead of Reese, Angel has established herself as a key player and one of the league’s most watched stars heading into her second season. Reese now also shares the court with Hailey Van Lith, who was drafted 11th overall and joined the Sky following a transfer from LSU to TCU.
Contrasting journeys in second season
While Reese’s 2025 campaign has seen steady improvement—including setting a league record of 10 consecutive double-doubles—the Chicago Sky’s overall team performance has struggled, holding a 7-17 record before their matchup against Indiana. Clark, meanwhile, has faced injury challenges, missing 11 of 25 games but still contributing to the Fever’s 13-12 record.
The ongoing Clark-Reese rivalry remains a compelling storyline for the WNBA, generating significant fan interest and media coverage. However, league officials acknowledge that for this rivalry to deliver its full potential, both stars need to be healthy and on the court simultaneously.
“It takes two to tango,” has become a fitting description for their intense competition, which continues to define much of the WNBA’s current narrative and its growing national profile.
Broader implications for women’s basketball
The heightened rivalry between Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark represents more than individual competition; it is shaping the media narrative and fan engagement in women’s basketball. Figures like Magic Johnson have compared this modern rivalry to historic <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/basketball/nba/”>NBA contests such as his own battles with Larry Bird, signaling its significance in the sport’s evolution.
The visibility of their contrast—Reese’s physicality and toughness versus Clark’s dynamic scoring and playmaking—provides a storyline that appeals to fans and elevates the league’s stature. Nonetheless, it also brings challenges, including scrutiny of player conduct and the handling of off-court issues such as allegations of abuse or harassment.
As the WNBA moves forward, managing this rivalry carefully while protecting the players’ well-being will be crucial. Both Reese and Clark appear ready to further define their legacies, making the ongoing chapter one to watch closely in women’s professional basketball.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What caused Angel Reese’s injury?
A. When I got the and-1 and fell, I landed on my hand, causing a small bone crack, Reese explained in a video on her TikTok account late Sunday night. The doctors informed me that I could choose to either have surgery or not.
Q. Did Angel Reese get a degree?
A. Reese studied interdisciplinary fields at Louisiana State University and focused on communications at the University of Maryland in College Park.
Q. What was Angel Reese’s injury?
A. Angel Reese couldn’t play in Thursday’s game against Seattle due to an injury. The team decided right before the game she wouldn’t participate because of a back problem. It’s not clear when Reese got hurt.
Q. What did Angel Reese’s parents do?
A. Angel’s family has a history with basketball. Both of her parents played the sport in college. Her mom even played professionally in Luxembourg. Angel shared in January 2023 with Just Women’s Sports, “She taught me to be independent, like she always has been.”