They say rivalries are the heartbeat of sports. It’s rarely just about stats or silverware; It’s about pride, intensity, and making a statement, and in the WNBA, that spotlight always shines bright on Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark. Their rivalry dates back to the 2023 NCAA championship game, where Reese and LSU took home the title. That win was iconic not just for the scoreboard, but for the moment after. Fast forward a year, and Reese was once again seen pointing to her ring finger in Clark’s direction—a fiery reminder of who wore the crown. It was bold. It was emotional, and it got everyone talking. But does that really make it a rivalry?

After last night’s heated exchange, most fans would say yes. But Rachel DeMita? She’s still not ready to call it one. It all started when Angel Reese secured an offensive rebound and Caitlin Clark swiped at her arm with enough force to send the ball flying and Reese crashing to the floor. The referees called a flagrant foul on Clark, a call upheld after review, reflecting the physical intensity of the moment. But Reese didn’t stay down for long. She got up and made her way toward Clark, only for Aliyah Boston to step in and keep things from escalating.

Cameras even caught Reese saying, “You crazy as f—. What the f— is wrong with you?” right after the scuffle. Social media lit up immediately. But despite all the buzz, Rachel DeMita still isn’t ready to call this a full-blown rivalry, and here’s why! In the latest video on her YouTube channel, she said:

“I was like, ‘Not again.’ I was speechless—like you guys can see me on the live, I’m just like, ‘Oh my gosh, here we go again, another year of this fabricated rivalry just because of a basketball play.’ I could see the think pieces being written, I could hear Stephen A. on First Take, I could see all of the podcasters grabbing their mic. I could see the WNBA stands getting into formation, getting ready to go to war for their favorite player. But in all seriousness, you guys, I’m sure at this point you have seen the play either if you’re watching the game live or you’ve seen it on social media,” she said and explained the play where the foul took place.

“I immediately knew, I was like ‘Oh cr-p, this is going to be something that goes viral. A bunch of people are going to talk about it.’ … They’re going to make this rivalry come back. This manufactured rivalry, which by the way you guys, the Indiana Fever beat the Sky by nearly 40 points. They won 93-58. … This should not be a rivalry. This rivalry should be dead. The Caitlin Clark-Angel Reese narrative should be dead. It’s not a fair rivalry, and it’s not going to be a rivalry if the Indiana Fever team plays this well.

“They don’t even have one of their key pieces, one of their starters and or their sixth man did not play in this game. Also, a great defender did not play in this game. It can’t be a rivalry if the games are going to be like this and that’s how I expect them to be.”

Well, if we’re just going by results since both entered the league, it’s hard to call this a rivalry at all. Caitlin Clark currently leads Angel Reese 5-1 in head-to-head matchups, and there’s little debate about who’s the better player. If there were still any questions about who the better player is, last night’s game might’ve settled it. Clark opened the season recording the third triple-double of her career as the Indiana Fever rolled past the Chicago Sky 93-58. The reigning Rookie of the Year finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and a career-high four blocks to top it off.

As Rachel DeMita pointed out, this might just be a case of a rivalry that’s been built more by the media than the players themselves. The WNBA has leaned into this narrative, scheduling five Fever-Sky games in 2025—including two at Chicago’s United Center to accommodate massive crowds, a first for the league. Their June 2024 clash pulled in 2.25 million viewers, marking the most-watched WNBA regular-season game in over two decades.

But after the intense showdown we witnessed last night, it’s hard to imagine this storyline fading anytime soon. Still, both Coach Tyler Marsh and Angel Reese did their best to downplay the incident. They brushed it off as just another heated moment in a competitive game. Clark did the same. Let’s take a look at what they had to say.

Angel Reese talks about the incident with Caitlin Clark

Clark stated: “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.” But what about Reese?

Then Angel Reese, too, remained composed during the post-game press conference, giving a measured take on her intense exchange with Caitlin Clark in the Chicago Sky’s loss to the Indiana Fever. Despite the on-court fireworks, it’s evident that there’s a strong level of mutual respect between the two stars.

“Basketball play. Refs got it right. Move on,” Reese told reporters calmly. Sky coach Tyler Marsh also shared his thoughts on the incident. “Yeah, I think it’s a little misrepresentation to say we had to calm her down,” he explained. “Emotions were high on both sides, and I think Angel reacted in a way any of us would in a moment like that.”

“For her and for us, it’s the understanding that we’re all in this together. We got her back in that locker room and on this coaching staff, and it’ll continue to be that way throughout the season,” the coach further stated. It was a tough night for the Bayou Barbie. Angel Reese didn’t quite look like herself out there, but no one’s forgotten what she’s capable of. Luckily, we won’t have to wait long for the next chapter.

June 7 brings another matchup between these two teams—and these two rivals. Will the Fever stay on top? Or can the Sky bounce back and even the score? Stay tuned to find out!