It’s only the second game of the regular season, and we’ve already got our first big headline. Just like last year, it’s once again centered around Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. For a moment, it felt like a throwback to 2023–back to that unforgettable NCAA championship clash where their so-called “rivalry” grabbed headlines and stirred up conversations about racial notions. Fast forward two years, and not much has changed. The season opener between the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky reignited those same debates. A hard foul by Clark on Reese sparked the fire, and what followed forced the WNBA to step in and launch an investigation.

It all started with a battle on the boards. Angel Reese grabbed the offensive rebound, strong and steady. Then came Caitlin Clark. She swiped at Reese’s arm hard. The ball flew out. Reese hit the floor. The refs didn’t hesitate. They upgraded Clark’s third personal foul to a flagrant. That was it. The spark. What followed was a whirlwind–one that exposed the ugly reality athletes still face today. An investigation was launched into the fan reaction against Reese.

Analyst Rosalina Lee had her own take on the incident. On her YouTube channel, she said, “I’m really, really, really hoping that the WNBA did not just announce an official investigation based on internet hearsay and outrage… it can be a dark place, let me tell you. 1,000% hands down. And it is an ecosystem where people very often get their frustrations out. They clap back. They say the worst things because, like, you’re hiding behind a screen. There is no, like, human interaction. So it’s easier to just kind of, like, dig deep and basically just say the meanest stuff online.”

If you were there, you could feel it. Tension. Discomfort. When the officials went to the monitor and the camera showed Reese on the sidelines, the crowd didn’t hide how they felt. No cheers. No respect. Just loud, echoing boos. And when Clark was hit with the flagrant-1? The noise got even louder. Reese stepped up to the line. Two shots. The first one missed–and the arena exploded in cheers. But when she nailed the second, the crowd flipped again. Back to booing. The message was loud and clear. The W was forced to step in after alleged sl-rs were hurled at Angel Reese– when she took those free throws.

Now, it’s normal for home fans to try and rattle the opposition. That’s part of the game. And at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, they were likely doing just that. So far, the videos going around on social media don’t show any clear evidence of racial sl-rs directed at Angel Reese. That’s exactly what Rosalina Lee points out in her video too.

This isn’t new for the WNBA, though. Players like Alyssa Thomas and DiJonai Carrington called out racist abuse from fans in 2024, with Thomas saying she’d never faced such comments from Fever fans before. Sue Bird, on Megan Rapinoe’s podcast last year, put it bluntly: “Racism’s been in the WNBA forever—it’s not just about Clark or Reese.” The attention these two bring has turned up the volume on both love and hate, often hitting Black players like Reese harder, as analyst David Dennis Jr. wrote in Andscape.

She continues, “Now, if I were the WNBA, I would look into these allegations before posting a public notice that there are allegations. Because there’s two things that you can be accused of, in my opinion—no matter what the outcome—just the accusation tarnishes the entire thing. And this one is one of them. And that is why I would handle this with seriousness, but I would handle it without making a public statement about it and then looking into it. Deliver some kind of public statement.”

Lee’s point about avoiding snap judgments feels spot-on. If the claims hold up, the league’s new fan conduct rules could mean bans from arenas. If not, saying the allegations were false might just stir up more anger online, especially with the Fever and Sky set to clash again on June 7. Either way, the league’s in a tough spot.

Lee adds, “Because now, no matter what–let’s just say nothing is found, let’s just say the accusations cannot be substantiated and are false–what do you think is going to be the outcome if the WNBA comes out and says these allegations have been proven false? Like, there is so much outrage about it that there is no right answer. However, if these allegations are substantiated—yes, the fan should be banned from Gainbridge Arena, possibly from other arenas.”

It’s still unclear whether the WNBA launched the investigation purely based on internet hearsay or if there was solid evidence of fans crossing a line. Either way, the message is loud and clear—the league is standing by its players. Through its “No Space for Hate” campaign, the W has doubled down on protecting athletes. As part of the effort, they’ve introduced an AI-powered monitoring system designed to detect and tackle hate speech and harassment on social media. This advanced tech is meant to shield players and the wider W community from online abuse. And honestly, that system might be the very reason this investigation began in the first place. A strong initiative that shows where the league’s priorities lie–right where they should be: with the players.

While the clash between the two superstars stole the spotlight, it overshadowed what was actually a solid basketball showing from the Indiana Fever. They played sharp. Focused. Even Caitlin Clark had a lot to say about the foul she committed. So, let’s take a look at that.

Caitlin Clark addresses controversial foul on Angel Reese

Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese may have gone head-to-head on the court, but after Saturday’s showdown, they agreed on one thing. Their clash? Just a basketball play. Nothing more.

“Let’s not make it something that it’s not,” Caitlin Clark said. “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.”

These two stars added another intense chapter to their rivalry. But what’s truly disappointing are the reports claiming Reese was targeted with racial ab-se. Racism should never have a place in sports—any sport, including the WNBA. The league’s decision to launch an investigation is the right move. Now, it’s crucial that those responsible face the strongest consequences possible-should there be any.