Caitlin Clark, Rhyne Howard separated after exchanging bumps, heated words during Fever-Dream matchup

When teams play twice in the span of three days, things tend to get chippy.

That's exactly what happened during Thursday's matchup between the Indiana Fever and Atlanta Dream. At the end of the first quarter, Caitlin Clark and Rhyne Howard shoved each other and exchanged some heated words at halfcourt before being separated.

The Fever and Dream played a physical game on Tuesday, with Indiana saying it got "pushed around" in a 91-90 loss. It appears that intensity has spilled over two days later.

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Here's a look at the altercation between Clark and Howard

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Caitlin Clark-Rhyne Howard altercation

Near the end of the first quarter, Clark was dribbling the ball past half court when the referees appeared to stop play for a foul at the other end. As she decelerated, she met Howard and elbowed her in the chest. Howard did not take kindly to it, and she and Clark exchanged some words before being separated.

Caitlin Clark and Rhyne Howard exchange some words 👀pic.twitter.com/8nybGMhxl4

The altercation comes on the heels of an extremely physical game between the Fever and Dream on Tuesday. Indiana coach Stephanie White said her team needed to find a way to handle the challenges posed by Atlanta in tonight's game 

"They're going to push us, they're going to shove us, they're going to hold us," White said. "They're going to do whatever they're allowed to get away with, and we have to figure out how to use that physicality against them."

Caitlin Clark stats vs. Dream

On Tuesday, Clark tried to will her team to a comeback after the Fever fell into a hole early on, but her efforts weren't quite enough to get Indiana its second win of the year. Here's a look at her stat line from the last game.

Rhyne Howard stats vs. Fever

Howard was solid on both ends of the floor last game, putting up 20 points and adding three steals to help her team hold off the Fever. Here's a look at her stat line from Tuesday.