Angel Reese shone with a double-double during the Chicago Sky’s 91-83 loss to the Indiana Fever on Sunday, but it was her flagrant foul on Caitlin Clark that will likely spark significant debate.

“Basketball play, I can’t control the refs,” Reese told reporters when questioned about the incident. “They obviously affected the game a lot today.”

Anything involving Reese and Clark grabs extra attention due to their high-profile rookie seasons and their storied rivalry dating back to college.

They faced off in the 2023 national championship game, where Reese’s LSU Tigers triumphed, leading to her memorable celebration pointing to her ring finger and using Clark’s “you can’t see me” gesture.

However, Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes got their revenge with an Elite Eight victory over LSU this past season.

Their rivalry intensified in their first WNBA clash on June 1 when the Fever edged out the Sky 71-70. The game was marked by Sky guard Chennedy Carter knocking Clark to the ground, leading to an away-from-the-play foul that the WNBA later upgraded to a flagrant.

Carter’s refusal to answer questions about Clark and her subsequent social media criticism, coupled with Reese’s $1,000 fine for not speaking to the media after the game, fueled the post-game drama.

After Sunday’s loss, Reese did speak to reporters, addressing more than just Clark.

“I’m not used to losing like this,” she said. “But I’m either going to be mad and sad about it or I’m going to get up and figure out what I can do better.”

Chicago is currently 4-9 in what appears to be a rebuilding year.