Angel Reese had enough of the referees after the Sky came up short in a physical contest versus Caitlin Clark and the Fever on Sunday.
Reese, who was called for a flagrant foul on Clark late in the third quarter, explained that the refs “affected the game a lot” and suggested that some were favored when it came to officiating in Chicago’s 91-83 loss at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
“For inside, I think we were playing really hard. I think we went up really strong a lot of times and we didn’t get a lot of calls,” Reese said in a postgame press conference. “And going back into looking at the film, I’ve seen a lot of calls that weren’t made. I guess some people got a special whistle.”
Reese — who was called for five fouls, which were mostly in the paint — was whistled for a flagrant 1 when her forearm came down and struck Clark in the head while the Fever guard was driving to the hoop.
“It was a basketball play,” Reese said when asked about her flagrant foul on Clark. “I can’t control the refs. They affected the game obviously a lot tonight… I’m always going for the ball. But y’all going to play that clip 20 times before Monday.”
Clark chalked up Reese’s foul to being a competitive play and said that the physicality is good for game.
Their rivalry stretches back to their college days when Reese’s LSU Tigers defeated Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes in the NCAA championship game in 2023.
Reese famously waved her hand in front of Clark’s face — giving her rival the “you can’t see me” gesture — during the title game, and has embraced a villain role ever since.
Iowa ended LSU’s season in an Elite Eight loss, 94-87, in the NCAA women’s tournament in April.
Reese went on to explain that she is proud of fellow rookie big Kamilla Cardoso, who also notched a double-double in Sunday’s loss, which marked Chicago’s fourth straight loss.
“That’s something that y’all are not going to be able to stop, regardless of the referees, like we’re here for a while, we’re not going to be denied no matter what you guys try to do,” Reese said. “Our goal is to win, we’re going to do whatever it takes to win and continue to do that.”
Reese finished with 11 points on 4-for-13 shooting, 13 rebounds and five assists to tie the WNBA rookie record with her sixth consecutive double-double.
Sky coach Teresa Weatherspoon defended Reese and Cardoso, who also racked up five fouls.
“They play so hard down there and sometimes the whistle just doesn’t go your way,” Weatherspoon said. “They play hard, and that’s the most important thing is to play hard. They know how important that is for us to establish that identity. Tonight I thought they played their butts off. They’re very physical down there. Wish we could have gotten some calls here and there.”
Reese was ejected from a loss to the Liberty earlier this month after she was assessed two technical fouls, though one was later rescinded.
The Sky are looking to bounce back against the Wings in Chicago on Thursday.
