The Relationship Between Caitlin Clark And Angel Reese: All About Their Competition, Rivalry, And Teamwork She told Women’s Health, “I love that we can compete and still be cool after, regardless of the outside noise.” The excitement surrounding the incoming WNBA class this year has only increased due to the (loving) rivalry between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. However, this weekend, as they prepare to play as teammates in the WNBA All-Star game in Phoenix on July 20, the basketball players will lay down their arms. The two old rivals from college have squared off once more in the WNBA. After one of Angel’s teammates fouled Caitlin, the two made news because Angel could be seen clapping. However, they will never have been on the same side of the court before.
A little more about their competition: On June 1 Caitlin’s Indiana Fever hosted Angel’s Chicago Sky, in the players’ first match-up since their Elite Eight game in 2024 March Madness. (There, Caitlin’s Hawkeyes came out on top, but lost in the finals to South Carolina.)
Indiana won the game by one point, but the team is instead making headlines for a foul against Caitlin. In one play, Chennedy Carter knocked Caitlin to the ground. Angel was photographed clapping, which caused headlines and a ton of renewed attention on this feud, per the Associated Press.
The same thing happened in the wake of LSU’s 2023 championship run (where they beat Caitlin’s Hawkeyes in the finals). Online chatter about a supposed rivalry between the two players dominated headlines.
But Angel set the record straight in her March/April cover interview with Women’s Health.
“I love that we’re able to compete and still be cool after, regardless of the outside noise,” Angel told WH. “When we get between the lines and we’re ready to compete, we just want to win. That’s just the group of women—we always want to win, and we’re strong and super powerful in everything that we do.”
It’s also not lost on Angel that the more people talk about the “rivalry” between her and Caitlin, the more airtime they each get—not to mention, the increased public interest ultimately benefits women’s basketball.
Ahead, here’s a look back at the history between Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark, what’s been said about their rivalry, and how they actually respect one another—on and off the court.
They are excited to play as teammates.
This will be the first game Caitlin and Angel will play as teammates, not rivals, which is pretty significant. So this time, instead of defending against each other’s talents, they will actually be able to use them to their benefit in joining forces.
In an interview on Thursday, Caitlin made this prediction about Angel: “She’s certainly probably going to lead the game in rebounds. I expect that out of her, that’s just what she does.”
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Caitlin also shared it’s uncommon to have two rookies on the All-Star team and said she’s looking forward to playing with Angel.
“I think it’s cool. It’s obviously rare to have two rookies in the All-Star Game, so I just think enjoy that. Obviously the fans are super excited about it. I just think it’s really good fo the W, and obviously she’s having an incredible year, so it’s going to be really fun,” she shared in the clip on X.
Caitlin also shared the only people talking about the rivalry are the media, in another interview, also posted on X. “For us, it’s just a game of basketball. That’s what it is.”
This game is expected to smash viewership records. The most-watched WNBA All-Star Game in history was in 2003, when 1.441 million vieweres tuned in, per The Athletic. But Angel and Caitlin’s star power, and rivalry are projected to surpass that record, and draw in more viewers.
They are competing for Rookie of the Year.
Their star power and talent is undeniable, say sportscasters, making the decision a challenging one.
“I think first and foremost, these two players came into the pros with unprecedented followings,” ESPN WNBA commentator Ryan Ruocco said, per the Indy Star. “Caitlin and Angel both had just incredible, incredible fanfare in college, and their matchups obviously lived up to and exceeded the hype…Then you’ve had them both doing historic things. They came in with these followings and this fanfare, and they both have delivered in huge ways on the floor.”
For what’s worth, Shaquille O’Neill says he’d give the vote to Angel.
“I’d give the vote to Angel. Caitlin (Clark) is a fabulous player, the female Steph Curry. They have done a lot for the game, but let’s not forget all the people that made the game what it was,” he said in an interview, per the Indy Star.
Angel says that fouls are “not personal.”
On Monday, Angel spoke to reporters about the game, saying that fouls are not personal.
“When we go out there and play super hard, compete every single day, it’s not personal,” she told reporter, per US Weekly.
“I promise you it’s based off of our stories and where we’ve come from. We’ve come from so many places that you guys have never seen or would never understand, so just being able to go out there and play with that chip on our shoulder every single night, that’s just what we do and that’s just who we are.”
Angel and Caitlin played AAU basketball together.
The players didn’t meet on the collegiate court; they’ve been competing against each other since their high school Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) days.
Before the 2023-2024 season began, Angel cleared the air on the situation that speculated animosity between Caitlin. “Oh my gosh, I love Caitlin; we’ve been competing since we were in AAU,” she told reporters during LSU’s media day in October 2023. “It was always fun, always competitive. One day, hopefully, we could even be teammates. She is a great player, shooter, person and teammate.”
