Angel Reese wants to clarify that there is no animosity between her and Caitlin Clark.
Reese spoke about her long-standing rivalry with Clark at ComplexCon.
“I don’t harbor any resentment towards her, and she doesn’t towards me,” Reese stated. “It’s just a competitive game of basketball that can get intense at times.”
The two athletes started competing against each other in high school and have since become notable figures in women’s basketball, both in college and now in the WNBA.
While Clark took home the WNBA Rookie of the Year award last season, Reese’s LSU team defeated Clark’s Iowa in the 2023 NCAA Tournament national championship game.
Clark was chosen as the number one overall pick by the Indiana Fever in the previous year’s draft, whereas Reese was selected seventh overall by the Chicago Sky.
“I’ve been competing against Caitlin since our middle school years,” Reese shared. “We both have a strong competitive spirit. I started at Maryland [before transferring to LSU], and she went to Iowa, and our rivalry continued there, so people are unaware of the history we have of playing against each other for a long time.”
Reese also addressed how she is treated by fans of the Fever and Clark.
“At times, it can be quite disrespectful,” Reese expressed. “Social media often pits two women against each other, which can have both negative and positive effects. It brings attention to women’s basketball, even if it means receiving hate. However, I understand that I play a role in growing the sport and supporting women’s basketball in the long run.”
