Caitlin Clark reignites feud with Cheryl Reeve during Fever-Lynx meeting

Caitlin Clark reignited her public feud with Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve on Tuesday night, rising from the sidelines to mock a timeout after an early Indiana Fever run in a game she watched while sidelined by a season-ending groin injury.

Clark, 23, was ruled out for the remainder of the season but attended the Fever’s 83-72 victory over the Lynx at Target Center. After Indiana opened the game with a 10-0 run and a mid-range jumper by Odyssey Sims, Clark stood and appeared to cup her hand in the universal signal for a timeout precisely as Reeve called one for Minnesota.

The exchange drew immediate attention from fans and commentators, reigniting a rivalry that dates to last summer, when Clark was not selected for the U.S. women’s 5x5 basketball team at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Reeve, who previously served as a head coach with Team USA, was on the coaching staff for that cycle, and some critics have suggested a conflict of interest after Clark’s omission.

Social media users reacted to Tuesday’s on-court interaction. "That’s what happens when you pass somebody up for the Olympics that should have definitely been there," one user wrote. Another posted, "Caitlin trolling Cheryl Reeve is always my favorite."

The public tension between Clark and Reeve has played out on multiple stages. In May 2024, tweets attributed to Reeve resurfaced in which she appeared to criticize the amount of attention Clark and the Fever were receiving, writing, "The W is more than one player." The exchange contributed to renewed scrutiny of Reeve’s role after the Olympic roster was announced.

Earlier this year, during the WNBA All-Star selection process, Clark further stoked headlines by orchestrating a swap of coaches for the All-Star Game. Named a captain despite her injury, Clark told ESPN host Malika Andrews that she and fellow captain Napheesa Collier had agreed to exchange coaches, saying, "To be completely honest, I love my team. I don't have any intention of trading any of them. I don't know if this is in the rules — and I don't really care — but we've already discussed that we're going to trade coaches." She added, "Phee is going to take her coach. Sandy Brondello, let's get it!"

Calls for Reeve’s resignation emerged in June after the resurfaced tweets and the controversy over Clark’s Olympic snub. Reeve and the Lynx organization declined to comment Tuesday on the interaction at Target Center or on the earlier criticism.

Fever coach and team officials also did not comment on Clark’s sideline gesture following the game. Clark has not publicly addressed the timeout mimic during the matchup, but she has been vocal in the past about her disappointment at being omitted from the 2024 Olympic roster.

Clark’s absence has been consequential for the Fever, who depend on the guard’s scoring and playmaking. Indiana produced a strong team effort against the Lynx, with contributions across the roster, including Sims’ early jumper that triggered the exchange with Reeve. The Fever’s victory keeps them competitive as the league moves deeper into the regular season, even as they adjust to playing without their leading scorer.

Reeve, who has been one of the WNBA’s most prominent coaches, has had her record and public comments scrutinized since the Olympic controversy. Team USA’s selection process for Paris drew widespread attention, and the decision to leave Clark off the roster prompted discussion about evaluation criteria for the national team.

The latest public incident adds another chapter to an ongoing storyline between one of the league’s breakout stars and an established coach. With Clark sidelined, the on-court rivalry will remain limited to exchanges from the bench until she returns to play, while the broader debate over Olympic selections and coaching conduct remains a focal point in WNBA coverage.