Dating back to their viral showdown in the 2023 NCAA Tournament, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have long been heavily intertwined.

Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese (left) and Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark (right). Brad Penner-Imagn Images

The two added another chapter to their rivalry on Saturday to kick off the 2025 WNBA campaign.

In their regular-season opener, the Indiana Fever picked up a dominant win over the Chicago Sky. However, the biggest storyline from the game was a near-scuffle between the pair of 2024 top-10 picks.

In the final minutes of the third quarter, Reese created space for herself below the rim by getting away with a shove on Natasha Howard. Displeased by the play, Clark quickly rotated and took a hard swipe at the ball as Reese went up for the shot.

Reese was unable to get a clean look off, as she went crashing to the floor. Upon getting up, the Sky forward quickly made her way toward Clark. However, the two were separated before things could escalate further.

Given their history, this ordeal quickly went viral online and made headlines. However, many have tried to downplay the situation. Even Clark and Reese shut down any notions postgame, as both feel it was a routine basketball play in hindsight.

During Monday’s episode of “First Take,” Chiney Ogwumike gave her thoughts on this exchange between Clark and Reese.

The former All-Star cited that the WNBA has long been known for being a physical league. Ogwumike also preached that people shouldn’t blow things out of proportion when the players themselves aren’t bothered by what unfolded.

“The WNBA is what a lot of people celebrate the NBA for embracing right now. It’s a physical league,” Ogwumike said. “This had gasoline because it had two megastar players, household names. My number theory is if the players are unbothered, you should be too.”

With the two endlessly being debated about for over a year now, there is no avoiding this play being a major talking point. However, as Ogwumike stated, it shouldn’t be viewed as anything more than a competitive play.

The WNBA world doesn’t have to wait long to see these two in action again, as they’re set to face off in three weeks in a Commissioner’s Cup game.