The recent takes poured onto social media Sunday after Chicago Sky ahead Angel Reese clocked Indiana Fever sharpshooter Caitlin Clark with an errant elbow on a lay-up try.
Reese was initially known as for a typical foul, however the referees upgraded it to a flagrant-1 foul upon additional assessment. Clark and the Fever ended up with a 91-83 victory.
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Former NFL quarterback and present ESPN analyst Robert Griffin III appears on earlier than the beginning of the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans AFC Divisional Playoff sport at M&T Financial institution Stadium on Jan. 20, 2024 in Baltimore. (Rob Carr/Getty Photos)
The foul prompted a ton of commotion, together with from former NFL star quarterback Robert Griffin III, who likened the discourse across the two gamers to a “race battle.”
“Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese are being utilized in a race battle that’s not honest to both athlete or the sport of basketball,” he wrote on X.
“Why do you assume the discourse round Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and the WNBA is 99% about the whole lot however the basketball being performed?” he requested.
WNBA gamers and sports activities pundits made Clark’s reputation about her race even earlier than she began in a regular-season sport.
Caitlin Clark, #22 of the Indiana Fever, celebrates in the course of the sport in opposition to the Chicago Sky on June 16, 2024 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. (Ron Hoskins/NBAE through Getty Photos)
CAITLIN CLARK TALKS GOING UP AGAINST ANGEL REESE: ‘PEOPLE JUST LOVE SEEING GREAT MATCHUPS’
Earlier than the Fever took on the Sky, Clark was requested a number of occasions on Thursday about her identify being utilized in “tradition wars,” and he or she obtained criticism when attempting to simply concentrate on basketball.
Clark had a quiet sport in opposition to the Atlanta Dream however scored 23 factors in opposition to the Sky.
Reese contended that Sunday’s foul was a “basketball play” and there was nothing greater than that.
“I am unable to management the refs, they usually affected the sport, clearly, lots tonight,” Reese mentioned after the sport. “Y’all are in all probability going to play that clip like 20 occasions earlier than Monday.”
“I feel we went up actually sturdy quite a lot of occasions and did not get quite a lot of calls,” Reese added. “Going again and looking out, I’ve seen quite a lot of calls that weren’t made, I assume some individuals get a particular whistle.”
Clark downplayed the foul.
Angel Reese, #5 of the Chicago Sky, appears on in the course of the sport in opposition to the Indiana Fever on June 16, 2024 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. (Ron Hoskins/NBAE through Getty Photos)
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“It’s what it’s, you realize, she’s attempting to make a play on the ball and get the block,” Clark mentioned. “I imply it occurs after which these free throws when you must shoot with no one on the line are sort of laborious. So I used to be simply specializing in making these free throws.”
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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