Was Angel Reese’s flagrant foul on Caitlin Clark ‘simply a part of basketball’?

The Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever had their second showdown of the WNBA season on Sunday, giving former school rivals Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark one other probability to battle it out.

Throughout the matchup, Reese was known as for a flagrant foul after a tough hit on Clark whereas attempting to dam her shot on the rim. Reese missed the ball utterly and as an alternative linked with Clark’s head.

The decision was initially only a widespread foul, however after a video overview, the officers upgraded it to a Flagant 1.

Following the Fever’s 91-83 win, each Reese and Clark addressed the hit. Reese known as it “a basketball play,” and Clark echoing her feedback, saying, “It is simply a part of basketball.”

However each gamers knew the foul was going to spark dialog, with Reese saying: “I am all the time going for the ball. However y’all going to play that clip 20 occasions earlier than Monday.”

And that is precisely what occurred. 

The clip went viral on social media, with some even calling for the suspension of the Sky ahead, saying her hit was intentional.

Was Angel Reese’s flagrant foul on Caitlin Clark a ‘basketball play?’

On Monday’s episode of “Speak,” co-host Emmanuel Acho began off with a message to these searching for the suspension.

“First let me make clear one thing: Angel Reese shouldn’t be suspended for that foul. Let me dispute that wild notion that has been circulating on social media,” Acho stated.

The Sky have simply two flagrant fouls this season, and each have been known as after hits on Clark. The primary was given to protect Chennedy Carter of their June 1 loss to the Fever, after she delivered an affordable shot to Clark throughout an inbound play. The second was the hit by Reese.

Whereas the previous LSU star has stated up to now that she and the previous Iowa star don’t hate each other, Acho thinks Reese’s latest actions are talking louder than her phrases.

“Angel’s actions are beginning to communicate so loud, we can’t hear what’s being stated,” Acho acknowledged after referencing Reese cheering after the primary flagrant hit on Clark and feedback on social media about taking over the “unhealthy man” function.

Whereas “The Herd” host Colin Cowherd does imagine Clark is experiencing a type of “hazing,” he did agree with Reese and Clark that arduous fouls are simply part of the sport. 

Cowher: Reese’s foul on Clark is ‘nothing to be outraged about’

“It is a flagrant foul, she received up and performed,” Cowherd stated.

“It is a part of basketball … each business has received a bit of ugly aspect … a bit of tribal aspect. That is it in basketball.”

Whereas fouls are part of the sport, Cowherd believes the “outrage” that has surrounded the WNBA this season, primarily in terms of Clark, is a bit overblown.

“The ladies are determining deal with it. It is the individuals who parachute into this sport that by no means watched it that do not perceive the chippiness that you simply get within the WNBA,” Cowherd stated.

The Sky and Fever have another common season faceoff scheduled on June 23 at 3 p.m. ET.

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