"Ducking that Fever belt" - WNBA fans erupt as Angel Reese ruled out ahead of hyped Barbie Game Day against Caitlin Clark’s Fever

Caitlin Clark was ruled out well in advance of the marquee matchup between the Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky on Sunday. To make matters worse for fans, Angel Reese's injury status was also downgraded to “out” just an hour before tip-off at Wintrust Arena.

Reese’s last-minute absence from the special “Barbie Night Game”, a collaboration between the Sky and Mattel, led to some backlash on social media. Shortly after news of her unavailability was reported, many fans accused her of intentionally skipping the matchup to avoid facing the dominant Fever team.

"Ducking that fever belt. Wouldn’t have mattered anyway," one fan said. "Ducking the Fever since she don't wanna get that 6th L," another fan added.

Similar reactions followed:

Despite the backlash, Angel Reese’s absence is not entirely unexpected. She had been listed as "questionable" ahead of the Sky’s Thursday matchup against the Seattle Storm due to a lingering back injury that ultimately forced her to be sidelined.

Sunday’s game is only the third time Reese will be absent in the 2025 season, and the Sky lost both of the previous two. With the Fever holding a stronger winning percentage, 5-7, without Caitlin Clark in the lineup, Indiana remains in a strong position to secure the win.

Edited by Satagni Sikder