Tempers flared and frustrations boiled over as Chicago Sky rookie forward Angel Reese didn’t hold back after stepping into a noticeably empty arena — and Caitlin Clark was nowhere in sight.

Following a sluggish road loss against the Indiana Fever, played without star rookie Caitlin Clark due to injury, Reese took to the postgame podium with visible irritation — but not just about the game itself. The real target of her frustration? The empty seats.

“I’m not gonna lie — it felt dead in there,” Reese said bluntly. “No energy. No fans. It’s crazy how different the atmosphere is when Caitlin’s not playing.”

The normally packed Gainbridge Fieldhouse, known for its electric crowds during Clark-led games, was only about two-thirds full, a stark contrast to the sellout showdowns that have followed Clark across the league. For Reese, it was a wake-up call about just how much one player has shifted the entire WNBA spotlight.

“Let’s keep it real — the buzz is different when she’s on the court,” Reese added. “I feed off that energy. Tonight? It felt like a scrimmage.”

Though the Sky rookie has quickly become one of the league’s most talked-about young players in her own right — both for her production and her fiery persona — her comments underline a growing reality across the WNBA: Caitlin Clark is not just a player; she’s a phenomenon. And when she’s absent, it shows — in attendance, in media coverage, and even in the intensity on the floor.

Reese’s remarks sparked instant reactions online. Some fans praised her honesty, while others accused her of feeding into the hype surrounding Clark. Either way, the moment once again highlighted the ongoing narrative tension between this year’s breakout rookie stars.

With Caitlin Clark expected to return in the coming days and the Sky-Fever rivalry only just beginning, expect future matchups to come with even more fireworks — and hopefully, a few more fans in the seats.