WNBA

11:30 AM PT -- The WNBA just announced one of Reese's technical fouls has been rescinded ... which means she'll at least save a bit of money, as the league penalizes players for each tech.

Angel Reese was not on the floor for the last couple minutes of the Sky's game Tuesday night ... and it's all 'cause a ref booted her from the action for bickering over a call.

The Chicago star's spat with the game official happened with 2:31 left in the fourth quarter of the Sky's tilt with the New York Liberty at Wintrust Arena.

The 22-year-old was whistled for a personal foul ... and she made it clear immediately she didn't agree with the call. She appeared to hurl some words at the ref -- before waving him off in disgust. However, after she made the motion with her hand, the official quickly called her for two technical fouls, and threw her out of the game.

If Caitlin Clark's teammates won't protect her from cheap shots on the court, Angel McCoughtry will ... saying she's down to sign with the Indiana Fever in a return to the league where she starred for years!

37-year-old McCoughtry joined Babcock on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs weekdays on FS1) ... days after Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter's body check of Clark sparked a conversation around the basketball world.

Angel believes it's time for Caitlin (and all teammates across the WNBA) to protect each other.

Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese may not be the best of friends, but their careers will forever be tied to each other's ... so says Jemele Hill, who sees early comparisons to Magic Johnson and Larry Bird!!

The Atlantic reporter joined Harvey and Charles on "TMZ Live" on Tuesday to discuss the ongoing situation between CC and AR ... and she believes both stars need each other -- comparing it to the Lakers and Celtics legends' on-court battles during their respective playing days.

"Larry Bird and Magic Johnson had the most watched men's national championship game in history," Hill said. "They had a rivalry from that game and they brought all that with them to the NBA."

Everything seems to be A-OK with Pat McAfee and Caitlin Clark following his controversial "white bitch" comment -- the ESPN personality said Tuesday the WNBA star has accepted his apology for the remark.

The former NFL player said on the "Pat McAfee Show" he reached out to Clark and the Indiana Fever as soon as he realized he had set the internet on fire with his statement.

He said a short time after he extended the olive branch, the team messaged him back and said they were "all good."

Legendary sports announcer Bob Costas is calling out the hypocrisy within the WNBA ... saying fans are choosing when to be outraged based on race -- pointing to a "Black on Black" incident involving Angel Reese to make his case.

A hard foul on Caitlin Clark resulted in a ton of backlash toward Chicago Sky player Chennedy Carter over the weekend ... with many claiming opponents are going too hard on the rookie sensation.

Costas says that energy was nowhere to be found for Reese earlier this season ... when Connecticut Sun player Alyssa Thomas grabbed her by the neck and pulled her to the court, resulting in a Flagrant 2 foul and an ejection.

Angel Reese wants people to put respect on her name ... the star Chicago Sky rookie feels she deserves credit for making the WNBA popular now, not just Caitlin Clark!

Reese's remarks come just days after her first game against Clark -- which definitely wasn't without controversy -- as Angel's teammate Chennedy Carter took a cheap shot at the number one overall pick, resulting in a flagrant foul, and a bunch of criticism.

The ire wasn't only directed at Carter ... Reese also got her fair share for her reaction to the hard foul. She was asked about what happened during Saturday's game.

1:21 PM PT -- Pat McAfee is addressing the criticism ... saying he shouldn't have used the phrase when describing Caitlin Clark -- and he personally sent her an apology for his mistake.

"No matter the context.. even if we’re talking about race being a reason for some of the stuff happening," PM said on X. "I have way too much respect for her and women to put that into the universe."

He added ... "My intentions when saying it were complimentary just like the entire segment but, a lot of folks are saying that it certainly wasn’t at all. That’s 100% on me and for that I apologize."

Chicago Sky head coach Teresa Weatherspoon just condemned Chennedy Carter for her controversial foul on Caitlin Clark ... calling the shooting guard's actions unnecessary.

The Sky honcho made the comments in a statement on Monday afternoon ... admitting the body check that Carter laid on Clark during their game Saturday was "not appropriate."

"Nor is it what we do or who we are," she added.

Angel Reese has been fined by the WNBA after the Chicago Sky's game against the Indiana Fever ... but, it's not for what most fans might think.

The league announced a fine for the rookie for skipping media obligations postgame ... dinging her $1,000 for not making herself available to reporters. They've also fined the Sky $5k.

Of course, Angel clearly applauded a cheap shot foul her teammate Chennedy Carter hit Clark with during the game Saturday, and some may have thought the league would reprimand her for that ... but, so far, that's not the case.

Look out, future athletes -- WNBA star Brittney Griner says her baby on the way will 100% be involved in sports ... telling TMZ Sports it's a no-brainer!!

The Phoenix Mercury center has been a basketball star her whole life ... from recording 52 dunks her high school senior year to winning a title at Baylor in 2012 and earning a WNBA championship two years later.

Now that Griner and her wife, Cherelle, announced they're expanding their family ... we had to ask if the kiddo will follow in her footsteps and grow up with a ball in his hands.

Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever got the win against the Chicago Sky on Saturday but boy, things got physical .... including a cheap shot that sent the number one pick to the hardwood, drawing applause from rival Angel Reese!

It was a full house at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis for the first WNBA match-up between Reese and Clark ... and they picked up right where they left things off in college!

The game was intense, and the Fever was thrilled to come away with their second win of the season. Clark wasn't happy with the body check from Angel's teammate, Chennedy Carter.

Caitlin Clark's fiery temper flared up once more during the Fever vs. Storm game Thursday night ... when she got so mad at Victoria Vivians, she actually got all up in the WNBA star's face on the court.

The incident happened in the second quarter of the sell-out contest at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse ... when Clark banked in a 30-plus footer, despite Vivians' hand in her face.

After the long 3-pointer, Clark had a few words for Vivians ... which clearly ticked off the Storm guard.

NY Giants star Darren Waller -- who's also a musician -- is opening up on his love life, in song form, dropping a new track about failed past relationships just months after his ex, WNBA star Kelsey Plum filed for divorce.

The latest single is titled "Who Knew (Her Perspective)" ... and Waller said he wrote it from the viewpoint of a woman trying to love him.

"I’ve struggled with intimacy in romantic relationships my whole life, and I recognize the toll it has taken on the lovers I’ve been close to," the 31-year-old said on Thursday.

Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis took their tykes out for their first major event -- a debut of sorts -- and turns out the little ones are carbon copies of their parents!

Check out the rare public snaps of 9-year-old Wyatt and 7-year-old Dimitri ... who joined their A-list parents courtside over the weekend for the L.A. Sparks WNBA game against the Indiana Fever and their superstar rookie Caitlin Clark.

It's clear who the fam was rooting for ... Ashton rocked a University of Iowa hat -- a nod to the college he and Clark both attended -- while his look-alike son sported an Iowa Hawkeyes sweatshirt.

Angel Reese was ridin' high after an impressive win against Breanna Stewart and the New York Liberty on Thursday ... and the WNBA star decided to take a shot at Caitlin Clark -- before deleting it.

But, nothing gets by the internet!

The 6-foot-3 forward celebrated the statement win by tweeting ... "And that's on getting a WIN in a packed area not just cause of one player on our charter flight. #SKYTOWN."

Charles Barkley unloaded on Caitlin Clark's detractors on Wednesday night ... calling them all "petty" -- while urging them to be grateful for everything she's already brought to the WNBA.

The Hall of Famer went on the rant during a segment on "NBA on TNT" ... after trolls -- including some who actually work in the W -- expressed displeasure with all the attention the Indiana Fever star has garnered through her first month in the league.

The Round Mound of Rebound's rant lasted about a minute -- and his message was loud and clear ... stop hating!!!