NFL veteran and Heisman winner calls for suspension of Angel Reese after bad foul on Caitlin Clark

It seems that Caitlin Clark and the WNBA are just out of luck. Just as the dust had settled on the Indiana Fever rookie’s questionable rejection from the Olympic squad, her nemesis Angel Reese reignited their rivalry by punching Clark in the head – a flagrant foul. Fans, pundits and ex-athletes, including former NFL star Matt Leinart, were incensed by Reese’s behavior and called for her suspension.

Reese’s horrific, unnecessary foul came in the final moments of the Indiana Fever-Chicago Sky game. Reese hit Caitlin in the back of the head to stop the rookie from rushing to the basket. The hit sent Caitlin crashing to the floor, another example of how hard the WNBA players were on the rookie.

Former Heisman winner and NFL veteran Matt Leinart was appalled by the Chicago Sky forward’s actions and called on the WNBA to suspend the player on “X.” “Angel Reese should be suspended. Period. Not good for the game,” Leinart tweeted to “X”.

Angel Reese should be suspended. Period. Not good for the game.

— Matt Leinart (@MattLeinartQB) June 16, 2024

However, fans had a different opinion on the foul. They didn’t agree with the former NFL quarterback, but argued that it was too soft a foul to respond to. Fans instead got angry at the former Bills for being so soft despite being an NFL player himself.

You played in the NFL and now you’re so gentle.

This was a serious foul that was upgraded to an intentional foul.

The referees did the right thing, but this was a basketball game and professional women’s basketball is not a physical game.

— just1n (@just1nvest) June 16, 2024

By the rules, it was an intentional 1, but it was a basketball play. Reese went where she thought the ball would go. She just didn’t anticipate the underhand shot.

– Jack Buckingham (@Jbuck9797) June 16, 2024

Shut up. You couldn’t name 10 WNBA players without Google. That play was as random as any foul we see.

Comments like these are what get the Corn People in an uproar.

— Etoya R. White (@EtoyaWhite) June 16, 2024

No wonder you were way too soft

— FlyEaglesFly (@GoBirds365) June 16, 2024

Why should someone be banned for a clear basketball game?

You’re acting hysterical, like she came down the middle like a free safety and took down Caitlin Clark.

Angel Reese tried to block the ball and missed. This happens all the time on basketball courts.

She…

— Jean-Philippe (@mrjeanphilippe) June 16, 2024

One of the most common accusations made against Leinart for his stance was racism. Internet users argued that Leinart was calling for a harsh approach based solely on the ethnicity and skin color of the players involved. NFL veteran RGIII gratefully came to Leinart’s aid by urging internet users not to turn this into a race war.

RGIII calls for reason and says it is “not fair” to involve Caitlin Clark in a race war

As the discussion surrounding racial bias became increasingly heated, former Ravens quarterback Robert Griffin III soon entered the ring and called for a ceasefire. Griffin implored his supporters to move on from racial bias, saying such a serious accusation was unfair and disrespectful to players and the game.

“Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese are being abused in a race war that is not fair to the athletes or the sport of basketball,” Griffin said to “X”.

Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese are abused in a race war that is fair to neither the athletes nor the sport of basketball.

— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) June 17, 2024

It is encouraging to see athletes like RGIII using their platform to preach reason. The foul was ruled a Flagrant One by the officials and there should have been a healthy discussion about the logic behind the decision.