The 2025 WNBA season tipped off with a bang — well, more like a beatdown. The Indiana Fever ran the Chicago Sky straight outta the gym, 93–58, and Caitlin Clark wasted zero time making her presence felt. Midway through the third, things got chippy when Clark fouled Angel Reese on a putback attempt. After a quick review, the refs decided the contact was a little too much and bumped it up to a Flagrant 1.

Both Clark and Reese picked up techs, and for a second, it looked like things might boil over. Reese was fired up, and there was a brief, tense exchange — the kind that makes you sit up and grab the popcorn. But once the dust settled, both players brushed it off like pros. Clark called it just a regular basketball play, nothing more, and Reese said pretty much the same — just two competitors going at it. No drama.

But things are far from over. Enter the NFL legend, Robert Griffin III, who just reacted to the spat between these two WNBA stars. And get this, Griffith wasted no time noting that Reese hated Clark. Yeah, you read that right. “After watching Caitlin Clark’s flagrant foul on Angel Reese and the aftermath, there is no way Angel Reese can continue the lie that she doesn’t dislike Caitlin Clark,” Griffin said. “I know what hatred looks like. Angel Reese HATES Caitlin Clark. Not some basketball rivalry hate either. Hate.”

But hold on—the plot thickens as Griffith shared another post on his official ‘X’ handle to justify why Angel Reese hates Caitlin Clark. Griffth noted that Reese hates Clark, and it’s all in front of everyone’s eyes. How? Well, for starters, according to Griffith, Reese often refuses to talk about Clark in interviews. Second, she seems annoyed or upset when people give Clark a shoutout for growing women’s basketball.

Last but not least, she “Celebrates when her teammates flagrantly foul Caitlin Clark… Goes after and tries to punch Caitlin Clark after a routine ‘make them earn it foul’ after Angel Reese fouled Aaliyah Boston with a push in the back that wasn’t called.” In Griffith’s words, it’s not just “hate.” In fact, “That’s jealousy and resentment.” But the catch?

Well, the former NFL quarterback believes that folks out there are afraid to point that out. Why? See, Robert Griffith III pointed out that people out there “get uncomfortable when you say Angel Reese hates or is jealous of Caitlin Clark because of the complex racial history of America and the historical stereotypes of the angry or jealous Black Woman.” And that’s where it gets pretty tricky.

Because get this—Griffith doesn’t carry any hate for Angel Reese. Nope. The NFL legend is simply noting that Angel is an NCAA Champion and a great basketball player. He believes that Angel is the competitor who “doesn’t like how Caitlin Clark is crowned while she’s criticized for showing the same confidence and fire in her own way.” Just like that.

And there you go. No doubt hate and jealousy follow with those kinds of feelings—at least that’s what Robert Griffith III is saying. But at the end of the day, it’s been a rivalry that goes back to the 2023 NCAA women’s basketball national championship. And both the WNBS stars addressed the incident in… let’s just say, in a professional way.

After all, it was a game of basketball for Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark

The WNBA season kicked off with the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky’s showdown. And let’s just say, it had everything. From big-name stars like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese facing off, and a blowout win with Clark dropping a triple-double, to a heated moment with a flagrant foul and real rivalry energy that had everyone buzzing. But if you’re thinking that these were the highlights of the game—yeah, they’re in one way or another. But try giving yourselves another shot.

Let’s call it what it is. With just 4:38 remaining midway through the third quarter, Angel Reese secured an offensive rebound. But as she attempted a putback, Caitlin Clark made everyone feel her presence as she delivered a hard slap across Reese’s arm. And yup, it caused Reese to fall to the floor. And just like that, the refs reviewed and upgraded Clark’s foul to Flagrant 1. But the highlight of the game?

It was both players showing respect in their postgame comments. Clark told ESPN’s Holly Rowe that there’s “nothing malicious” behind the third-quarter foul. “Let’s not make it something that it’s not,” she said after the game. “It was just a good play on the basketball. I’m not sure what the ref saw to upgrade it, and that’s up to their discretion. It’s a take foul to put them at the free-throw line. I’ve watched a lot of basketball in my life, that’s exactly what it was. I wasn’t trying to do anything malicious. That’s not the type of player I am.”

On the flip side, Reese noted that it was a “basketball play,” while the Fever’s head coach, Stephanie White, said that she thought it was a “clear play on the ball” when Clark fouled Reese. But at the end of the day, Caitlin Clark had the final smile as she recorded her third career triple-double, scoring 20 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, and dishing out 10 assists. The result? 93-58. The Indiana Fever won.