The 4x WNBA champion took problem with Clark’s response after she dedicated a tough foul on Reese through the third quarter of their extremely anticipated first assembly of their sophomore seasons.
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Swoopes Calls Out Caitlin Clark For Walking Away After Committing Hard Foul On Angel Reese
“I didn’t have a problem with the foul… had Angel or anyone else done the exact same foul to Caitlin the storyline is different.”
The @GilsArenaShow get heated over Caitlin Clark’s flagrant foul on Angel Reese 👀 pic.twitter.com/A6uti3ge5l
— Underdog (@Underdog) May 19, 2025
Appearing on the May 19 episode of “Gil’s Arena,” Swoopes, who performed within the WNBA from 1997 to 2011, mentioned Clark’s flagrant foul through the Fever-Sky recreation final Saturday.
“I don’t have an issue with the foul. I thought it was a hard foul, yep, I thought the refs got it right,” Swoopes mentioned. “My issue wasn’t even with the foul. If you’re going to foul somebody, I was always taught you don’t give up an easy basket, period. And that’s what I thought Caitlin did. My thing with that was, stand in it. Don’t walk away.”
During the third quarter of the sport, Clark’s foul in opposition to Reese induced tensions to rise in Gainbridge Fieldhouse, as Reese leaped from the ground and moved towards Clark, seemingly exchanging some selection phrases.
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However, earlier than Reese and Clark may come face-to-face, Clark had already begun strolling away. Clark’s teammate, Aliyah Boston, additionally intervened, stepping between them and showing to shove Reese within the course of.
“My other issue was … I also have always been taught when I played, go grab your own teammate, don’t come grab my teammate. So, where Aliyah Boston went over to Angel … to me, you gotta get your own teammate,” Swoopes mentioned. “I didn’t have a problem with the foul … I got issues with all the other stuff that came along with that, not that foul.”
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Clark And Angel Reese Respond After The Game
During the groups’ post-game conferences, each Reese and Clark addressed the foul, downplaying the incident and indicating a robust want to maneuver previous the anticipated public response.
“Basketball play. Refs got it right. Move on,” Reese advised reporters after the sport.
Clark, speaking to the media alongside Boston, echoed these sentiments, including, “Let’s not make it anything that it’s not.”
“It was just a good play on the basketball. I’m not sure what the refs saw to upgrade it. That’s up to their discretion … I wasn’t trying to do anything malicious. That’s not the type of player I am,” Clark added.
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Attendees Claimed Fever Fans Made Racist Remarks Toward Angel Reese
“Traveled from Chicago to Indy for the game today, and I will never be doing that again. The things I heard Fever fans screaming at Angel were nasty and blatantly racist. @IndianaFever, how much longer can you let this go on without addressing your harmful fan base?” a consumer wrote.
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WNBA Launches Investigation Into Claims Reese Was The Target Of Racism
On X, previously Twitter, the WNBA acknowledged the allegations of racist remarks made towards Reese through the recreation and condemned such conduct as unwelcome of their league.
“The WNBA strongly condemns racism, hate, and discrimination in all forms,” the league wrote in an announcement. “They have no place in our league or in society.”
They continued, “We are aware of the allegations and are looking into the matter.”
The Indiana Fever additionally launched an announcement stating they had been cooperating with the WNBA to offer a “safe environment for all WNBA players.”
On Instagram, Reese’s workforce, the Chicago Sky, shared the same submit, stating, “We welcome the WNBA’s investigation of allegations of fan misconduct during our first game of the season. We will do everything in our power to protect Chicago Sky players, and we encourage the league to continue taking meaningful steps to create a safe environment for all WNBA players.”
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What Is The ‘No Space For Hate’ Campaign?
Three days earlier than the Sky-Fever recreation, the WNBA introduced its new initiative — the “No Space For Hate” marketing campaign. According to the league’s official press launch, the multi-dimensional platform is designed to fight hate and promote respect throughout the WNBA, from fan discourse on social media to in-arena conduct.
“As the WNBA continues to grow in popularity and influence, we’re proud to launch ‘No Space for Hate’ — a league-wide initiative to better protect players, preserve the spirit of the game, and affirm the values of our league. We believe that basketball can be a unifying force — a place where people from all walks of life come together not just to watch a game, but to connect,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert mentioned in an announcement.
She continued, “We want our arenas, and our social platforms filled with energy and fandom — not hate and vitriol. That means turning our values into action: strengthening digital and physical security, expanding access to mental health resources, and unifying our message across the league. It’s our responsibility to protect what makes this sport so special and ensure we continue to inspire the next generation of women’s basketball fans.”
