Tensions were high in the early going between the Indiana Fever and Atlanta Dream Thursday night.

The two teams were 48 hours removed from a battle that came down to the final seconds, which the Dream won, 91-90. So, maybe there was some carryover.

With less than 30 seconds to go in the first quarter, Caitlin Clark and Rhyne Howard exchanged some words and had to be separated. Howard was playing full-court defense on Clark, who was dribbling up the court. 

Refs whistled the play, and the two bumped into one another. Both appeared to extend an arm, and Clark began to walk away from the situation before Howard took a step forward. But one of Howard’s teammates quickly stepped in and led Howard away.

“I’m not scared of you,” Clark appeared to say, and she was backed by her teammates.

Despite the tense moment Thursday, they shared a funny one earlier this month in the preseason, when Howard jokingly picked at Clark’s ear after their exhibition, prompting a laugh from Clark.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark talks to a referee during a game against the Atlanta Dream at State Farm Arena. (Brett Davis/Imagn Images)

‘AROUND THE HORN’ PANELIST QUESTIONS IF ESPN CANCELED SHOW DUE TO POTENTIAL ‘WOKE’ LABEL

It was a slow night overall for Clark, who had just six points heading into the fourth quarter. She had 27 points two nights earlier against Atlanta. 

Indiana trailed, 75-71, with just over two minutes to go, but it ended the game on a 10-1 run. Clark added five points in the fourth quarter to finish with 11.

Clark’s teammate, Natasha Howard, led the way with 26 points, while Rhyne Howard dropped 24.

The scuffle between Clark and Howard came five days after Clark and Angel Reese had to be separated. Clark was called for a flagrant foul on Reese, who then had words for Clark. 

The incident prompted an investigation into alleged hateful comments toward Reese by fans at the game. Reese reposted a TikTok that said she is “unsafe” playing in Indiana.

Caitlin Clark, right, of the Indiana Fever yells at Rhyne Howard (10) of the Atlanta Dream after an altercation during the first quarter at State Farm Arena May 22, 2025, in Atlanta.  (Andrew J. Clark/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

The Fever are back in action Saturday against the reigning WNBA champion New York Liberty in Indianapolis at 1 p.m. ET.

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SOUTHERN SECTION SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS

THURSDAY’S RESULTS

QUARTERFINALS

DIVISION 6

Ramona Convent 2, Pasadena Poly 0

DIVISION 7

Culver City 12, Silverado 1 (five innings)

SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE

(Games at 3:15 p.m. unless noted)

SEMIFINALS

DIVISION 1

Norco at Ayala

El Modena at Temescal Canyon

DIVISION 2

JSerra at Great Oak

Santa Margarita at Los Alamitos

DIVISION 3

Marina at Yorba Linda

Westlake at Kennedy

DIVISION 4

Long Beach Poly at Harvard-Westlake

Warren at El Toro

DIVISION 5

St. Bonaventure at Riverside North

West Ranch at Cerritos

DIVISION 6

Ramona Convent at University

Rio Hondo Prep at Adelanto

DIVISION 7

Rancho Mirage at Westminster

Culver City at Riverside Notre Dame

DIVISION 8

Cathedral City at Lennox Academy

Hueneme at Calvary Baptist

Note: Finals (all divisions) May 30-31 at Bill Barber Memorial Park, Irvine.

The sports world was rocked by the death of legendary Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay on Wednesday. 

The news struck especially hard for many of Irsay’s former Colts players, including Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning.

Manning, who played his first 13 seasons for the Colts and helped them win the Super Bowl in the 2006 season, shared his respect for Irsay in an Instagram post Wednesday night. 

“I am heartbroken to hear about Jim Irsay’s passing. He was an incredibly generous and passionate owner and I will always be indebted to him for giving me my start in the NFL. His love for the Colts and the city of Indy was unmatched. His impact on the players who played for him will not be forgotten. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and everyone in the Colts community. He will be missed. Jim, rest in peace my friend,” Manning wrote.

Many of Manning’s old Indianapolis teammates expressed their condolences too. 

Former Colts punter and current ESPN host Pat McAfee shared a long story in an X post on Wednesday, detailing his experience with Irsay throughout the punter’s career. 

“The 1st time he and I really had an extended convo was at training camp after the lockout in 2011.. players and front office weren’t allowed to communicate with each other during the lockout but, Jim followed me on Twitter throughout the CBA negotiations, his first day at training camp, immediately after the lockout ended, he drove his golf cart over to where I was and started firing off questions about Twitter.. He enjoyed the thought of being able to connect with Colts fans all over the world,” McAfee wrote. 

McAfee even credited Irsay for helping the punter succeed in his post-NFL career. 

“When I decided to retire.. he and I had a 2.5 hour conversation in his office. He was sitting at his desk.. hitting the s— out of his vape .. and we talked about everything I was hoping to go do. He tried to stop me for a few minutes.. even offered to renegotiate my contract.. and then once he realized my decision was made.. the convo turned into him trying to give me as much game as possible about running a business and maintaining authenticity,” McAfee added. 

“Jim has done everything he can to help me succeed.. He’d join our show anytime I asked, no matter where he was in the world.. He’d send me motivational messages when he heard I was going thru something.. he’d forward articles that he’d come across that he thought I should read.” 

JALEN HURTS MAINTAINS HE ‘WASN’T AVAILABLE’ FOR EAGLES’ WHITE HOUSE VISIT

Jim Irsay, the owner of the Indianapolis Colts, speaks to the fans at Reggie Wayne’s induction into the Ring of Honor at Lucas Oil Stadium on Nov. 18, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Legendary NFL kicker Adam Viniatieri expressed his condolences to Irsay in an X post. Viniatieri cemented his legacy by helping the New England Patriots win three Super Bowls from 2001-2005, often beating the Colts on the way there. However, when Irsay’s team signed the kicker in 2006, it immidietly helped change the fortunes of both teams, as Viniatieri kicked the game-winning field goal against the Patriots in that year’s AFC championship game to send the Colts to the Super Bowl. 

“I’m heartbroken to hear about the passing of Jim Irsay. He was more than just an owner, he as a man of the people and his generosity was unmatched. I’ll always be grateful for the opportunity to have played under his leadership, and his impact on my life. Rest in peace, Jim,” Viniatieri wrote. 

Former Colts star wide receiver T.Y. Hilton, who played for Irsay’s team from 2012-2021, making four Pro Bowls, shared his love for Irsay in a post on X on Wednesday night. 

“Please don’t ask me if I’m ok. Cuz I’m not. Thank You Sooo Much Mr.Irsay. I will forever hold our talks close to my heart. Love You! RIP Mr.Irsay,” Hilton wrote. 

Several other current and former pro athletes paid respect to the owner on social media as well, including Robert Griffin III and the son of former legendary Colts wide receiver Marvin Harrison, Marvin Harrison Jr.

Irsay’s father purchased the team in 1972, when they still played in Baltimore, for $12 million and moved the team in 1984. Irsay was the general manager of the team from 1982 to 1996 and became the NFL’s youngest owner at age 37, shortly after his dad’s death in 1997.

Irsay had several health issues over the years and battled drug and alcohol addiction, once admitting he had been to rehab “at least 15 times.”

The Colts announced in January 2024 that Irsay was being treated for a “severe respiratory illness.” That February, he posted on X that he was “on the mend.”

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, #18, left, and owner Jim Irsay are victorious after beating the New York Jets at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Jan. 24, 2010. (Al Tielemans /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images)

“It’s a long road, and you have to be patient. The great news is everything is going well,” a hospitalized Irsay said that March after he underwent a procedure on his right leg.

Irsay said by that point he had undergone “26 surgeries over the last seven years.”

Over his tenure running the day-to-day operations of the organization, Irsay won 258 games, the fourth-most in the NFL in that span. He also won 10 division titles, went 1-1 in Super Bowls and made the playoffs 18 times.

He is survived by three daughters and 10 grandchildren. He and his ex-wife divorced in 2013.

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