Angel Reese appears to celebrate after Chennedy Carter’s hard foul on Caitlin Clark

After scoring a basket for the Chicago Sky late in the third quarter on Saturday, Carter came up from behind Clark and checked her to the floor with her shoulder while Clark was waiting for an inbound pass.

Caitlin Clark falls after being fouled by Chennedy Carter during Saturday's game.
Caitlin Clark falls after being fouled by Chennedy Carter during Saturday’s game.Screengrab via X/@_MarcusD3_

Angel Reese appeared to celebrate after Caitlin Clark was knocked to the ground.
Angel Reese appeared to celebrate after Caitlin Clark was knocked to the ground.Screengrab via X/@BarstoolNate

“I wasn’t expecting it,” Clark said after the Fever’s thrilling 71-70 win over the Sky. “It is what it is. It’s a physical game. Go make the free throw and execute on offense, and I feel like that’s kind of what we did.”

But when Clark went down, Reese jumped up from the Sky’s bench and applauded her teammate, seemingly for the cheap foul.

“Yeah, that’s just not a basketball play,” Clark said. “But you know I’ve gotta play through it, that’s what basketball is about at this level. I thought we’ve been really physical, we’ve missed some bunnies around the rim, so hopefully those fall in the fourth.”

Later in the game, Reese took her own shot at Clark.

The former LSU star seemingly threw her elbow at Clark late in the fourth quarter, sending her to the floor yet again.

Clark seems to be a target for physical play this season.

“I feel like I’m getting hammered, I don’t know,” Clark said Thursday in a postgame press conference after receiving a technical during the 103-88 blowout loss to the Storm.

Saturday’s win for the Fever marked Clark and Reese’s first matchup in the WNBA, but their rivalry was established during their collegiate careers at Iowa and LSU, respectively.

Reese broke the internet when she gestured to her ring finger in Clark’s face during the 2023 NCAA Tournament final.

Angel Reese shows Iowa's Caitlin Clark her ring finger during the final seconds of the women's 2023 NCAA Tournament national championship game.
Angel Reese shows Iowa’s Caitlin Clark her ring finger during the final seconds of the women’s 2023 NCAA Tournament national championship game.Zach Boyden-Holmes / USA TODAY NETWORK
The two have maintained that the rivalry is nothing personal, but the more recent fouls against Clark could suggest otherwise.

Clark finished with 11 points, eight rebounds and six assists for the Indiana Fever.

Reese contributed eight points and 13 rebounds for the Sky.

Before Saturday’s matchup, the pair went head-to-head just 61 days ago in the Elite Eight, when Clark’s Hawkeyes overpowered Reese and the Tigers.

“It is what it is,” Clark said postgame. “I feel like I’m at the point where you accept it and don’t retaliate. Just let them hit you, be what it is, don’t let it get inside your head and know it’s coming. I think at this point I know I’m going to take a couple hard shots a game. I’m trying not to let it bother me. Just trying to stay in the game and stay focused on my team, and focus on what’s important.”

Fever head coach Christie Sides said she will most likely send the play into the WNBA for review after looking at the tape.

“We just keep sending all these clips into the league, and they keep telling us why we’re not right about what we think, but we’re going to keep doing it,” Sides said. “These guys are going to start getting calls. They’ve got to start getting calls.”

Fever general manager Lin Dunn posted on X her displeasure for the officiating, saying:

“There’s a difference between tough defense and unnecessary— targeting actions! It needs to stop! The league needs to “ cleanup” the crap! That’s NOT who this league is!!“