Caitlin Clark receives flagrant foul after hard challenge on Angel Reese, sparking skirmish

The first meeting of the year between the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky did not disappoint. Rising emotions in the Midwestern rivalry led to a scuffle between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese late in the third quarter.

Things started with Clark committing a clear foul on Reese, stripping Reese of the ball and giving her enough of a push to send her off-balance. Reese was not happy about the play, confronting Clark with Aliyah Boston trying to hold her back.

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After review, Clark was assessed a flagrant foul for the extra contact. Reese and Boston were given off-setting technical fouls for the skirmish after the foul.

Reese was given two free throws as a result of Clark's flagrant, making one of the two attempts.

At the quarter break, Clark told the ESPN broadcast that her only intention was to stop Reese from scoring. Reese had a wide-open path to the basket prior to Clark's foul, which was intended as a "take foul" — a strategic foul meant to stop a fastbreak or an open opportunity.

Clark was seen speaking to the officials after the foul was assessed, trying to argue that the play was not a flagrant.

"It's just a good take foul," Clark told ESPN. "Either Angel gets a wide open two points or we send 'em to the free throw line. Nothing malicious about it. It's just a good take foul, every basketball player knows that."