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Robert Griffin III suggests Angel Reese 'hate' for Caitlin Clark is deeper than basketball

Nick Profile Picby:Nick Geddes•05/18/25•

NickGeddesNews

Angel Reese Caitlin Clark
Grace Smith-IndyStar via Imagn Images

Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese and Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark share an on-court rivalry dating back to their collegiate playing days at LSU and Iowa, respectively. If you thought the rivalry peaked in the 2023 National Championship Game, Saturday’s 2025 WNBA season-opening matchup between the Sky and the Fever proved it’s not slowing down one bit.

In the third quarter of Indiana’s 93-58 victory, Clark fouled Reese hard as she went for a layup, and the officials upgraded it to a flagrant after going to the monitor. After the play unfolded, Reese turned toward Clark to respond and appeared to say, “You crazy as fu*k” as Sky coaches calmed her down. Called was called for a technical foul on the play, as was Fever center Aliyah Boston.

The foul and the subsequent aftermath was the main talking point coming out of the game. Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III immediately chimed in on social media, saying he believes Reese “hates” Clark. Griffin further explained why this is not just a “basketball rivalry” during his “Outta Pocket with RGIII” podcast on Sunday morning.

Robert Griffin III says Angel Reese-Caitlin Clark rivalry is deeper than basketball

“I know what hatred looks like,” Griffin said, via Awful Announcing. “Angel Reese hates Caitlin Clark. Not some basketball rivalry hate, either. The reason I said that is because when somebody that you don’t like says something to you, you automatically always take it to the most extreme. You always automatically say, ‘Oh, they meant to harm me with that statement.’ But, if your friend or somebody you’re cool with made that very same statement, none of us would be so quick to run to judgment to say, ‘Oh, that was negative.’ We would question what it was. We would react differently.

“So why do I think Angel Reese hates Cailtin Clark? It could be the fact that Aliyah Boston had to save Angel Reese from ending her career… After the foul, Caitlin Clark put on Angel Reese, and Angel Reese tried to hit her. But if it wasn’t for Aliyah Boston putting her arms in the way, Angel Reese would not be playing basketball anymore, because she was going to sucker punch Caitlin Clark. Now, you tell me a time when you’ve seen somebody get fouled on a basketball court in a professional league, where they try to almost sucker punch somebody that they were friends with, because of a hard foul?”

Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark address third quarter incident

Clark and Reese both addressed the play after the game. In her post-game press conference, Clark said she didn’t quite know why the referees upgraded it to a Flagrant 1, but made it clear there was no malintent.

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

Reese said it was a “basketball play” and the officials got it right. When asked a follow-up, a Sky spokesperson said Reese already answered the question and head coach Tyler Marsh also repeated her answer.

Clark finished the game with a 20-10-10 triple-double. Reese led the Sky with 12 points and 17 rebounds.