INDIANAPOLIS — The WNBA got all the fireworks it hoped for in the Sky’s season opener against the Fever on Saturday, and especially in the explosive rivalry between Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark.

What was otherwise a typically scrappy game, which the Fever won 93-58, turned nasty with 4:38 left in the third quarter when Clark committed a flagrant foul by shoving Reese to the floor and sparking an altercation that required Sky team security to help keep the players separated.

Reese drove to the basket on Clark and got by her, then Clark fouled her with both arms and pushed her to stop her from scoring. Reese immediately jumped up and swiped at Clark as she walked away before officials and players stepped in to hold her back.

The play initially was whistled as a common foul, and both players were animated and livid on their respective benches during the review. Reese clapped her hands at the announcement that it was upgraded to a flagrant.

“Basketball play,” Reese said. “Refs got it right. Move on.”

When Reese was asked a followup question about the play, a Sky staff member interrupted and declined the question. Coach Tyler Marsh agreed and added, ““Angel reacted in a way that any of us would’ve reacted.”

Officials also called a double technical foul on Reese and Fever forward Aliyah Boston. Boston appeared to be trying to restrain Reese when they made contact with each other.

Clark said in an in-game interview with ESPN that her foul was “nothing malicious” and called it an ordinary play.

Reese made 1 of 2 free throws after the foul, and Marsh briefly took her out of the game after that play. When she returned late in the third quarter, Clark went to the bench simultaneously.

They played against each other without incident in the fourth quarter. Reese got a breakaway basket against Clark early in the quarter with the Fever up 72-49, and Clark simply ducked out of her way.

The Reese-Clark rivalry dates back to the 2023 NCAA championship game when Reese led LSU to the title over Clark’s Iowa team and has been compelling as the players’ careers took off. Both were All-Stars as rookies and are trying to lead their teams back to championship contention.

There’s been tension, like when former Sky guard Chennedy Carter got a flagrant for shoving Clark in a game last season, but this will go down as the day it went from a rivalry to all-out bad blood.

And there’s much more to come.

As the WNBA looks to capitalize on two of its most electric young players, the Sky and Fever will face each other five times this season, including for the league’s debut of “Rivals Week” in August. Their next matchup is June 7 at the United Center.

INDIANAPOLIS — The WNBA got all the fireworks it hoped for in the Sky’s season opener against the Fever on Saturday, and especially in the explosive rivalry between Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark.

What was otherwise a typically scrappy game, which the Fever won 93-58, turned nasty with 4:38 left in the third quarter when Clark committed a flagrant foul by shoving Reese to the floor and sparking an altercation that required Sky team security to help keep the players separated.

Reese drove to the basket on Clark and got by her, then Clark fouled her with both arms and pushed her to stop her from scoring. Reese immediately jumped up and swiped at Clark as she walked away before officials and players stepped in to hold her back.

The play initially was whistled as a common foul, and both players were animated and livid on their respective benches during the review. Reese clapped her hands at the announcement that it was upgraded to a flagrant.

“Basketball play,” Reese said. “Refs got it right. Move on.”

When Reese was asked a followup question about the play, a Sky staff member interrupted and declined the question. Coach Tyler Marsh agreed and added, ““Angel reacted in a way that any of us would’ve reacted.”

Officials also called a double technical foul on Reese and Fever forward Aliyah Boston. Boston appeared to be trying to restrain Reese when they made contact with each other.

Clark said in an in-game interview with ESPN that her foul was “nothing malicious” and called it an ordinary play.

Reese made 1 of 2 free throws after the foul, and Marsh briefly took her out of the game after that play. When she returned late in the third quarter, Clark went to the bench simultaneously.

They played against each other without incident in the fourth quarter. Reese got a breakaway basket against Clark early in the quarter with the Fever up 72-49, and Clark simply ducked out of her way.

The Reese-Clark rivalry dates back to the 2023 NCAA championship game when Reese led LSU to the title over Clark’s Iowa team and has been compelling as the players’ careers took off. Both were All-Stars as rookies and are trying to lead their teams back to championship contention.

There’s been tension, like when former Sky guard Chennedy Carter got a flagrant for shoving Clark in a game last season, but this will go down as the day it went from a rivalry to all-out bad blood.

And there’s much more to come.

As the WNBA looks to capitalize on two of its most electric young players, the Sky and Fever will face each other five times this season, including for the league’s debut of “Rivals Week” in August. Their next matchup is June 7 at the United Center.