Dawn Staley Stands Firm in Support of Angel Reese Amid WNBA Caitlin Clark Controversy

In the wake of a heated on-court confrontation between WNBA rookies Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark, legendary coach Dawn Staley has voiced strong support for Reese, applauding her resilience and standout performance.

The incident occurred during a recent Chicago Sky versus Indiana Fever matchup, where tensions boiled over after Clark committed a flagrant foul on Reese, sparking a heated exchange and resulting in technical fouls. Following the incident, Reese reportedly endured racist taunts from fans, prompting the WNBA to open an investigation.

Staley, a towering figure in women’s basketball and current South Carolina head coach, emphasized Reese’s significant contributions, stating, “If I had to pick a Rookie of the Year today, it’s Angel — no doubt.” While acknowledging Clark’s impressive statistics, Staley highlighted Reese’s consistent double-doubles and leadership qualities as decisive factors.

Both Reese and Clark have publicly condemned the inappropriate fan behavior, underscoring the need for respect and unity within the league during difficult moments.

Staley, who recently released her memoir Uncommon Favor: Basketball, North Philly, My Mother and Life Lessons I Learned from All Three, was asked about the controversy during a promotional appearance on The View. She described the on-court incident and noted how both players have moved past the confrontation with professionalism.

On May 17, during the Sky-Fever game, Clark received a flagrant foul after shoving Reese to the floor during a layup attempt. Reese quickly got up and confronted Clark, but teammates and coaches intervened to de-escalate the situation.

When asked on The View about the racist backlash Reese faced, Staley responded, “We need to follow the lead of Caitlin and Angel. They’ve moved on and said, ‘It’s basketball, let’s move on.’ But if you read my book, you’ll find answers to these challenges.”

The WNBA officially condemned racism and hate in a statement released May 18, acknowledging the investigation into reported incidents unrelated directly to the foul but concerning racist remarks aimed at Reese.

Staley’s influence transcends collegiate basketball. As a coach of the 2020 Olympic gold-medal-winning U.S. women’s basketball team and a mentor to numerous WNBA players—nine of whom currently play across seven teams—her voice carries significant weight in the sport.

Earlier in her career, Staley urged fans and analysts to deepen their understanding of the league beyond a few games, advocating for informed commentary.

Asked in July 2024 about the Rookie of the Year race, Staley praised both Clark and Reese but gave the nod to Reese, citing her consistent double-doubles as a key differentiator. Clark, however, won the award by a wide margin.

Reese shares the Sky roster with former South Carolina standout Kamilla Cardoso, while Clark plays alongside Aliyah Boston, another Staley protégé, on the Fever.