A brief exchange of trash talk took place between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese during the final minutes of the 2023 NCAA championship game. Reese mimicked WWE wrestler John Cena’s iconic “You Can’t See Me” gesture in Clark’s face and pointed to her ring finger to signify LSU’s championship victory while following the Iowa star around the court.
Fans on social media reacted with mixed feelings to Reese’s actions, with some even calling her behavior “classless.” However, in an interview after LSU’s win, Reese explained the reason behind her gestures.
Reese’s comments referred to Clark dismissing Alexis Morris as a 3-point threat. Two days before the incident, Caitlin Clark had dropped 41 points against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the Final Four.
The Caitlin Clark-Angel Reese rivalry carried over into the WNBA
Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese transitioned to the WNBA this summer as two of the league’s most promising newcomers. Reese was known for her dominance in the paint and relentless rebounding. Clark was known for her Steph Curry-like shooting range and her passing skills. Both have helped elevate women’s basketball to a global stage.
Though both players took time to adjust, the two eventually showcased their skill sets at the professional level. The Rookie of the Year race between them was neck and neck for the majority of the season, but Angel Reese sustained an injury and ended her season early while Clark continued to impress.Clark hit her stride midseason, leading the Fever to their first playoff berth since 2016. Reese’s Chicago Sky ended the season with five straight losses and did not qualify for the postseason.
At the start of the 2024 WNBA season began Clark faced a rough patch of inconsistency. Not only did her Indiana Fever begin with a 1-8 record, but she also struggled to adjust to the physicality of the league.However, Clark was able to find her groove and won the top rookie award almost unanimously, finishing the season with 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 8.4 assists per game. Her Fever defeated Reese’s Sky thrice in four encounters.
