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Caitlin Clark posted a 20-point triple-double, Aliyah Boston racked up 19 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks and the Indiana Fever torched the rival Chicago Sky 93-58 in both teams’ season opener Saturday in Indianapolis.
To start her second WNBA season, Clark made four three-pointers and added 10 assists, 10 rebounds and four blocks. She also was called for a flagrant-1 foul on rival Angel Reese in a third-quarter sequence that called to mind some of the controversial moments of the Indiana-Chicago rivalry last year.
Kelsey Mitchell and Fever newcomer Natasha Howard each added 15 points. Another offseason signing, DeWanna Bonner, scored seven to become the WNBA’s No 3 all-time scorer (7,489 points). She made two free throws late in the fourth to pass Tina Thompson on the scoring list.
Reese led the Sky with 12 points and 17 rebounds and new acquisition Ariel Atkins scored 11 points.
Reese’s first points of the season came on a layup, which Clark answered mere seconds later by pulling up for a 28-footer, her first triple of 2025.
Mitchell connected on a pair of three-pointers in the first quarter to help Indiana take a 22-17 lead.
Reese made a rare three-pointer early in the second to cut a 26-20 deficit in half. Bonner pilfered the ball from Reese on the next Chicago possession and took it for an easy layup.
Coming off a pass from Clark, Boston swished a midrange jumper for Indiana’s first double-digit lead at 36-25 with 4:01 till halftime. On the final play of the half, Clark got herself open on the left wing for a last-second three to give the Fever a 45-32 advantage.
With 4:38 left in the third quarter, Reese found herself wide-open after getting an offensive rebound. The nearest defender was Clark, who stepped in to give a take foul that featured an extra shoving motion at the end. Reese was incensed and started yelling at Clark, who walked away from the play. A referee and Boston held back Reese, who appeared to continue shouting toward Clark once ushered to the bench.
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After review, referees upgraded Clark’s foul to a flagrant-1, also calling offsetting technicals on Reese and Boston.
During an in-game interview with ESPN, Clark said there was “nothing malicious” about the foul.
“It’s just a good take foul,” Clark said. “You know, either Angel gets a wide open two points, or we send them to the free-throw line. Nothing malicious about it. It’s just a good take foul. Every basketball player knows that.”
Clark went on to find Boston for assists on back-to-back baskets, including a three, and the Fever grew their advantage to 65-45 by third quarter’s end.
The beatdown was on when Clark buried a 30-footer, intercepted a pass and fed Mitchell on the run for a layup. Clark’s 10th assist came on a bounce pass to Boston, and her 10th rebound was on defense with 2:22 to play.
