Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark demonstrate sportsmanship and mutual respect after the LSU-Iowa game, highlighting the competitive spirit and camaraderie in women’s basketball.
Before the LSU-Iowa March Madness game on Monday, Angel Reese clarified there was no animosity between her and Caitlin Clark, a sentiment demonstrated by their post-game embrace following Iowa’s victory in the Elite Eight.
During the game’s closing handshake, Reese, 21, and Clark, 22, shared a moment, with Reese whispering encouraging words into Clark’s ear, which ESPN commentator Ryan Ruocco noted.
Reese later disclosed in a postgame press conference, visibly moved, the exchange between them: “She just told me, ‘Continue to be a great player,’” and Reese reciprocated the sentiment, urging Clark to “keep elevating the game and go win it.”
Despite the competitive fire between them, Reese and Clark have dismissed any notion of bad blood, stemming from LSU’s triumph over Iowa in the previous year’s championship game, which included Reese’s notable “you can’t see me” gesture towards Clark.
Reese faced national backlash for her actions but received support from Clark, who later broke the NCAA Division I women’s basketball scoring record this season, an achievement Reese applauded.
Ahead of their Elite Eight clash, Reese spoke about their rivalry, emphasizing its competitiveness rather than personal animosity. “It’s just a super-competitive game… but after the game, we can kick it,” Reese explained, addressing public misinterpretation of their relationship.
Reese, unbothered by any villain label, sees their rivalry as a catalyst for promoting women’s basketball, stating, “You either like it or you don’t.”
In the game, Reese tallied 17 points and 20 rebounds before fouling out, while Clark led Iowa with 41 points, propelling them into the Final Four and cementing her status as the consensus No. 1 pick for the upcoming WNBA Draft, held by the Indiana Fever.
Reese now faces a decision on whether to return to LSU for another year or declare for the draft, where she’s seen as a first-round contender, with a 48-hour window post-loss to make her choice before the draft on April 15 in Brooklyn.
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