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The Intense Rivalry Between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, Decoded

The Intense Rivalry Between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, Decoded

Rivalries between public figures are nothing new. Whether in the music world, where Taylor Swift and Katy Perry feuded for years before burying the hatchet, or in Hollywood, where the infamous hatred between siblings Olivia de Havilland and Joan Fontaine was the stuff of legend. When celebrities don’t get along, it can be a long-lasting public battle filled with he said/she said, what seems like a never-ending no-win situation that drags on in the public eye.

Sometimes the drama is well-known, and the origins of how it began are well documented. Other times, it can remain a mystery, and it often seems as if the media may play up certain aspects of a contest, pitting two people against each other. This may very well be the case with basketball stars Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, two highly skilled WNBA players who have spent years honing their craft.

24/7 Tempo has gathered perspectives from social media users and professional athletes about the ongoing drama between these basketball professionals. Many believe the feud might be a bit more one-sided than it appears. (For more basketball news, click here to uncover the 12 biggest wins in American basketball history.)

Here is the intense rivalry between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, decoded:

Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese were on friendly terms at one point

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

These days, the connection between Clark and Reese is riddled with negativity and drama. It wasn’t always that way, though. Clark and Reese once had nothing but kind sentiments to share about each other whenever they had the opportunity.

As a reminder, both female basketball players started gaining traction during the 2023 national championship game. At the time, Reese was playing for LSU and Clark was playing for the Hawkeyes.

The intensity of the game paired with the unparalleled talent from both Reese and Clark attracted a massive audience that most women’s college basketball games never received before. In fact, more than 12.6 million viewers were tuning in to catch a glimpse of Clark and Reese handling business on the court.

In October of that year, Reese spoke kindly of Clark at a media event for LSU, saying, “Oh my gosh, I love Caitlin. We’ve been competing since we were in AAU. It was always fun, always competitive. One day, hopefully, we could even be teammates. She is a great player, shooter, person, and teammate. I don’t care about anything that’s negative. When you know the person and what their genuine intentions are, being able to know that we did something big, that we grew women’s basketball. That’s all that matters.”

When Reese was heavily criticized for trash talking Clark after a major LSU win, Clark sat for an interview with ESPN saying, “I don’t think Angel should be criticized at all. No matter which way it goes, she should never be criticized for what she did. I’m just one that competes, and she competed. I think everybody knew there was going to be a little trash talk. It’s not just me and Angel. That should never be torn down. That should never be criticized because I believe that’s what makes this game so fun. That’s what draws people to this game. That’s how I’m going to continue to play. That’s how every girl should continue to play.”

What went wrong between these two after they were showing so much mutual support for each other?

How the feud between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese started

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The exact moment that the feud between Clark and Reese started is unclear, but it’s safe to assume that the drama between the athletes stems from one reason in particular. From an outsider’s perspective, it appears Clark receives far more attention in the WNBA than Reese does.

The subject of race is a controversial topic, and many people prefer to avoid the idea that Clark could be receiving preferential treatment. However, others are convinced that’s the case. One example is when Reese was given a flagrant foul against Clark based on a referee call she didn’t agree with. During her post-game press conference, she voiced her frustrations and made it clear that she wasn’t happy about the situation.

What social media users are saying about the feud

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Social media users have been weighing in with their opinions regarding the feud between Clark and Reese. Tons of people are team Clark, while others are far more supportive of Reese. Regardless of what side fans are on, it’s common enough to vocalize their thoughts and opinions on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Reddit.

In fact, multiple Reddit threads have been launched to talk about the differences in talent levels between Clark and Reese. Fans spend time on these Reddit threads going back and forth about who they think will come out on top. Some consider themselves to be fans of both with excitement about seeing them both succeed and thrive while playing basketball.

In one Reddit thread, a fan wrote, “They are both awesome. Best thing to happen for WNBA popularity. Hate the weird narratives forming.” This comment couldn’t be more true. Even though narratives about a feud between Clark and Reese are constantly circulating, headlines that surface about these two athletes have certainly helped to bring more acknowledgment and recognition to the WNBA.

What famous folks are saying about the feud

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Many public figures have a lot to say about everything going on between Clark and Reese as well. That includes Jason Whitlock, who’s known for starring on a show called “Fearless” on Blaze TV. From his perspective, Reese is the type of athlete who constantly plays victim and loves playing the role of a villain to snag more media attention.

In short, he is not one of Reese’s biggest fans. He’s criticized her for cracking under the pressure, and he even poked at her mental health in past interviews. Shaquille O’Neal, on the other hand, has a lot of wonderful and positive things to say about Reese and her basketball abilities.

O’Neill played professional basketball for years, most notably with the Lakers and the Heat. He has been quoted calling Reese the “greatest athlete” to graduate from LSU. Such kind words coming from someone like O’Neill mean a lot since he had such an impressive career in his heyday.

Dawn Staley, an Olympic gold medal-winning basketball player and coach, had glowing things to say about Clark earlier in 2024, calling her one of the “goats” of basketball. As a reminder, the term goat means “greatest of all time.” Famous folks will undoubtedly continually share their thoughts on the ongoing feud between Reese and Clark as long as both players are hitting the court.

Why some fans believe the feud is actually one-sided

Indiana Fever v Chicago Sky
2024 Getty Images / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

Some diehard basketball fans are convinced that the feud between Reese and Clark is completely one-sided. They believe that Reese is the only one perpetuating the drama while Clark doesn’t really say too many negative things to the press.

In interviews, Reese consistently speaks up about wanting to receive more attention than Clark when it comes to her presence in the WNBA. On the contrary, Clark doesn’t share too many thoughts on the subject. Most of the time, Clark sits down to discuss her basketball career and goals for the future.

Will Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese’s feud ever come to an end?

Young basketball player holds classic ball. Basket in background. Junior level basketball player holding game ball. Basketball training session for kids
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As long as Reese and Clark are both playing basketball in the WNBA, this feud will likely live on. One thing that will potentially keep both players positively distracted might be all the sponsorships, brand deals, and endorsements they constantly snag from companies that are impressed by their skill sets.

Reese has signed contracts with the likes of PlayStation, Starry, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, Amazon, Panini America, and Airbnb. Clark has signed contracts with the likes of State Farm, Gatorade, and Nike. Needless to say, they’re both doing quite well. (For more sports, click here to find out about the greatest athletes who ever played basketball.)

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