Angel Reese gets unexpected support from an NBA star in Caitlin Clark flagrant foul controversy

Was it a “basketball play,” or something more?

Angel Reese gets unexpected support from an NBA star in Caitlin Clark flagrant foul controversy

The second WNBA showdown between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese featured no shortage of fireworks. Clark‘s Indiana Fever emerged victorious over Reese‘s Chicago Sky for the second time in as many meetings, but Reese’s flagrant foul on Clark during the third quarter has prompted major controversy as perhaps the defining moment of the game.

Clark’s many defenders on social media were quick to call out Reese and other Sky players for targeting Clark and subjecting her to excessive physical contact. But those “in the know” — people in and around the game of basketball — have defended Reese’s flagrant as an unfortunate basketball play, including an NBA star and former teammate of LeBron James.

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Kyle Kuzma defends Reese’s “basketball play”

Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma strongly defended Reese against all number of haters on social media, including Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy. The entrepreneur Portnoy posted to his three million followers on X (formerly Twitter) that Reese was doing “Reese stuff” by fouling Clark hard, but Kuzma strongly disputed this notion in a direct reply to Portnoy’s post.

Fans and media members also defended Reese from blowback following Chicago‘s 91-83 loss to Indiana. Replay angles showed Reese was clearly targeting the ball instead of Clark as the Fever guard drove to the rim, but she unfortunately missed and swiped at Clark’s head — which saw Clark awarded two free throws.

Kuzma’s comment on X is unlikely to end the debate over this game any time soon, even if Clark and Reese both labeled it a basketball play and expressed a desire to move on from the incident. Still, if nothing else, it shows just how large a slice of the sporting culture the WNBA has acquired in the past year.

VIDEO: Stephen A. Smith’s Latest Message About Caitlin Clark And Racism Involves A Wild Reference To Donald Trump

Caitlin Clark, Stephen A. Smith and Donald Trump.Caitlin Clark, Stephen A. Smith and Donald Trump (Photos via Getty & ESPN)

In a recent episode of First Take, host Stephen A. Smith surprised everyone by discussing the challenges faced by Indiana Fever star player Caitlin Clark. While giving his opinion on the criticism surrounding Clark, Smith mentioned a controversial name. The 56-year-old NBA analyst brought up Donald Trump and discussed how race plays a role in Clark’s controversies.

“There’s a broader issue here that can’t be escaped. And that is this: she is a white young lady. And she’s been a magnet in a way that has benefitted the league in ways that others have not, even though their efforts have been worthy and deserving of being as celebrated, if not even more celebrated…. in the end, if you’re white, you’re bright, you’re right, and as a result, the shine comes your way in the eyes of a lot of people in America.” Smith said.

“You have somebody that’s a presidential candidate. What is his claim to fame? Make America Great Again. What have people interpreted that to mean? Make America White Again… what has that led to? A divide. It is not a divide that is created. It is a divide that is illuminated because it highlights and shows that it’s been in existence all along. And It hasn’t gone anywhere.” Smith added.

Caitlin Clark Racism Controversy

After making her debut in the WNBA, Clark has been involved in numerous controversies on a weekly basis. Recently, her fans have been bringing up her name in discussions about racism, misogyny, and homophobia. During an interview, the 22-year-old Fever player was asked about these topics, and she said that her focus was on basketball. Despite Clark ignoring the fans’ actions, another player, Connecticut Sun guard DiJonai Carrington, criticized Clark for ignoring such essential incidents.