Many fans have pitted the two athletes against each other since their must-see college matchups, causing Reese to be sent racist messages and death threats, she said.
Angel Reese is shutting down rumors of a feud between her and Caitlin Clark while addressing the racist comments she has received in response to the nonexistent beef.
The Chicago Sky star commented on the rookie rivalry with the Indiana Fever player on the first episode of her new podcast, “Unapologetically Angel,” out Sept. 5. During the podcast, Angel Reese and her co-host, Maya Reese, discussed her college basketball career at Louisiana State University and how her first season in the WNBA is going so far.
Maya Reese pointed out that Angel Reese and Clark have been linked together since the LSU Tigers faced off against Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes in the NCAA championship game in 2023. After Angel Reese and Clark battled back and forth, LSU defeated Iowa 102-85. In one unforgettable moment from the matchup, Angel Reese celebrated by tapping her ring finger, symbolizing the championship ring she would receive for her victory.
This year, the two teams met again in the Elite Eight game, with Iowa beating LSU. The Hawkeyes advanced but later lost in the championship game to the South Carolina Gamecocks.
On her podcast, Angel Reese reflected on that viral 2023 interaction with Clark.
“I think just being able to be in that moment of it happening, you never realized how something can really change your life,” she said. “And knowing my five fingers and my other finger pointing at my hand could literally have changed my life for, like, forever is crazy.”
She then complimented Clark, calling her an amazing player. Angel Reese added that the two have been competing against each other since high school and that “there’s never been beef.”
“We’ve talked trash to each other at AAU (Basketball), like that. It’s been that,” she explained.
Angel Reese said that some fans have created a false narrative about her and Clark.
“I think it’s really just the fans, her fans, the Iowa fans (and) now the Indiana fans that are, like, they ride for her. And I respect that respectfully. But sometimes it’s very disrespectful. I think there’s a lot of racism when it comes to it,” she said. “And I don’t believe she stands on any of that.”
But that racism is being linked to Clark, she said.
“I don’t believe in her heart that she has hatred towards me and I’m sure she believes that I don’t have hatred towards her,” she shared.
Angel Reese revealed that some of Clark’s fans have taken things too far, putting the Chicago Sky athlete’s safety at risk.
“Basketball is literally a game,” she said. “We have so much fun with it. But when it comes to death threats, when it comes to people finding — like I’m talking about people have come down to my address, followed me home, like, it’s come down to that.”
She also said she has been sexualized, which she first mentioned at a press conference in April after LSU lost to Iowa in the NCAA women’s tournament.
“On multiple occasions, people have made AI pictures of me, like, naked, literally. They have sent it to my family members,” she revealed.
She said her uncles have sent her the fake images that they have received.
“It sucks to see that, and it’s really hard that I have to go through that, and now seeing other players even having to go through that,” she added.
Still, Angel Reese said she loves playing basketball and reiterated that there isn’t any “hate” between her and Clark.
“No hate. We’re going to play on the same team one day, I’m sure,” she predicted.
Maya Reese chimed in and suggested the two rookies might be selected to represent Team USA at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Clark and Angel Reese already gave WNBA fans a glimpse of their chemistry on the court when they played together on the same team during All-Star Weekend. Clark dished an assist to Angel Reese who scored a layup as fans cheered.
