Caitlin Clark has been touted as the Face of the WNBA in recent times. Ever since her introduction into the league, Clark has played a pivotal role in elevating the visibility of the league. Apart from her star power, the Fever star is also praised for her ability to embrace her teammates. Only recently, Aerial Powers expressed gratitude to Clark for her welcoming vibe.
However, despite everything, Angel Reese is reportedly one of Clark’s biggest rivals. While the duo debuted in the WNBA at the same time, their rivalry goes way back. Back in 2023, when both Clark and Reese were playing in the NCAA, one of Reese’s gestures blew up the internet. Yet, Clark was quick to defend her.
Caitlin Clark Have No Hard Feelings Despite Angel Reese’s 2023 NCAA Taunt
2023 NCAA championship game was a banger. Reese’s LSU Tigers clashed with Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes. Dropping a phenomenal performance, the Tigers clinched the game with a scoreline of 102-85. And while the LSU team burst into celebrations, one particular gesture from Reese became viral. During the closing moments of the game, the current Chicago Sky star pointed at Clark and did a ‘You Can’t See Me’ gesture. Immediately, the internet lashed out at Reese for using WWE superstar John Cena’s signature on Clark.
Surprisingly, the then-Hawkeyes star seemed to be unbothered. In fact, Clark also defended Reese while speaking on a 2023 episode of ESPN’s ‘Outside the Line.’ “I don’t think Angel should be criticized at all. I’m just one that competes and she competed. I think everybody knew there was going to be a little trash talk in the entire tournament. It’s not just me and Angel. We’re all competitive. We all show our emotions in a different way. You know, Angel is a tremendous, tremendous player. I have nothing but respect for her,” said Clark.
Angel Reese just hit Caitlin Clark with the "you can't see me" 😳 pic.twitter.com/POazWMwAbM
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 2, 2023
After a few months of the incident, Reese also reflected on the situation. And she had nothing but praise and respect for Clark. The then LSU star cited Clark as a “great player, shooter, person, and teammate.” Meanwhile, as the two went on to become WNBA stars, the comparison between them hasn’t stopped. Speaking on the topic, Michelle Obama pointed out social media’s role in their rivalry.
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Michelle Obama Discusses Social Media’s Role In Caitlin Clark-Angel Reese Rivalry
During the WNBA season, one game the fans are eager to look out for is the Indiana Fever vs. the Chicago Sky. Since Reese and Clark have been rivals since their college days, the hype around them has only grown. However, with the narrative around their rivalry heightening, Michelle Obama recently pointed out one major factor acting as a catalyst.
“I think the tough thing is the social media element to it, but that’s true across the board. It just takes a normal occurrence, these young kids today what they have to go through and be able to withstand, because social media is such a huge part of their world, but now the hate is in your room on your phone with you all the time, and you can’t tell these kids to turn it off, because they’re making their living that way,” Mitchell Obama said on the ‘All The Smoke’ podcast.
Thus, it is evident that the Reese vs. Clark storyline is still an interesting point of discussion in the WNBA. With both the stars returning next season, the matchups are going to be a banger.