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NBA champion Kyle Kuzma came to Angel Reese's defense after Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy criticized Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese on Sunday. Reese was charged with a flagrant-1 violation after hitting Caitlin Clark in the head when the Fever rookie went up for a layup.
This prompted Portnoy to call out Reese and her Sky teammates on X.
"Shoker," Portnoy tweeted. "Angel Reese and the Sky doing Angel Reese and Sky stuff. By the way Caitlin is cooking them."
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Kuzma then responded to Portnoy's tweet:
"Bozo this is a basketball play."
Caitlin Clark shares what was going through her mind after Angel Reese's flagrant foul
Caitlin Clark is new to the WNBA, but she's no stranger to its physicality. She has been hammered by other players in what is perhaps a type of "welcome to the league moment" and she has taken it in stride.
Clark has said many times that the physical plays she encounters are a part of basketball and that she has to play through it. She maintained the same mentality following Reese's flagrant-1 foul.
When asked about the play, Clark said that the main thing going through her mind afterward was that she had to sink the two free throws awarded as a result of the call.
Those were important free throws as the Fever were only leading 63-62, and anything to help widen the margin was a welcome addition. Clark sank both free throws and was also a perfect 6-for-6 from the charity stripe in Indiana's 91-83 win.
She also said that she thought Reese was making a basketball play trying to get the block to prevent the Fever from scoring.
Meanwhile, Reese said that she did not agree with the officials. She said that the referees missed some calls and implied that other players are more favored by saying that other players get "a special whistle."
The rivalry between Reese and Clark has become one of the most anticipated narratives of the season, and it's not over yet. The Sky and the Fever will meet two more times this season, on June 23 and Aug. 30, with Indiana up 2-0 in their season series.
