Former Iowa Hawkeyes sensation and current Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark once talked about her biggest rival, Angel Reese. In December 2024, People Magazine interviewed Clark after she was named TIME Magazine’s Athlete of the Year and asked her how it felt to have the limelight in women’s hoops and women’s sports in general.
Another request thrown towards Clark was to set the record straight on her longtime rival and former LSU Tigers standout Angel Reese, who now plays for the Chicago Sky. Clark said she doesn’t understand why there is such a big fuss over their rivalry, and also doesn’t understand why Reese had to taunt her during the 2023 NCAA title game, given that they have a lot of respect for each other.
“I don’t get that at all. We’re not best friends, by any means, but we’re very respectful of one another. Yes, we have had tremendous battles. But when have I ever guarded her? And, when has she guarded me? The only thing people cared about was this controversy that was really fabricated and made up, and then that has continued to be the case ever since,” Clark was quoted as saying.
During the 2023 NCAA championship matchup between coach Kim Mulkey‘s Tigers and coach Lisa Bluder’s Hawkeyes, Reese infamously taunted Clark a couple of times with under a minute to go in the winner-take-all game. Reese looked at Clark and did a “You can’t see me” gesture, an action popularized by WWE superstar John Cena, and then proceeded to point to her ring finger.
This is because at that point, Reese and company held a sizeable advantage against Clark and the Hawkeyes en route to winning the 2023 national championship. The Tigers ended up defeating Iowa by 17 points, 102-85, as they won their program its first national title. Clark and company exacted vengeance against LSU in the 2024 national tournament by eliminating them in the Elite Eight, 94-87.
Read More: Analyst Calls Caitlin Clark’s “Transcendent” After Taylor Swift Link Up at Travis Kelce’s Game
Caitlin Clark Said That The Attention She Gets Whenever She Plays Makes Her Feel Powerful
During the same interview with Anna Caplan of People Magazine, Caitlin Clark was asked about her rookie year in 2024 and the unparalleled attention she got. Clark said she used this as fuel to improve her game.
“You feel powerful. Instantly, everybody goes crazy. People are invested in the game, they love the game, and that’s what makes it so fun for me. These people aren’t supporting women’s sports to check a box. It’s going to be the new normal,” Clark shared.
Also Read: Sydney Colson Makes Feelings Clear on Being Teammates with Caitlin Clark
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