Angel Reese on Caitlin Clark Feud, What She Said and How It Started

Quick Answer

Angel Reese has publicly stated that there is no animosity between herself and Caitlin Clark, saying the two stars "don't hate each other" as they prepared for the LSU-Iowa rematch. The rivalry, which has been heavily covered by media and fans alike, is often characterized by intense on-court moments, but Reese has directly addressed the narrative to clarify her position.

The ongoing attention around their matchups stems from multiple high-stakes games and specific gestures that have been widely discussed and interpreted.

Key Facts

• Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark have faced off multiple times at both the college and professional level, with each matchup drawing significant media attention.
• Reese has publicly addressed the narrative, stating there is no animosity between her and Clark.
• The rivalry gained national prominence following the 2023 NCAA championship game, during which Reese made a gesture directed at Clark that sparked widespread discussion.
• Clark herself defended Reese in April 2023, saying Reese should not be "criticized" for the gesture, citing that trash-talking has long been part of men's sports.
• A 2025 Guardian article described the rivalry as "a mirror for American bigotry," highlighting the racial undertones that have been imposed on the narrative.
• Multiple on-court incidents have fueled the story, including Reese being caught flailing and mocking Clark during a WNBA game between the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever.
• Reese has also been criticized for physical play against Clark, including a foul that was described as "dirty" by fans, where she appeared to shove Clark by the neck.
• Despite the media framing of Reese as the "villain" in the rivalry, some observers suggest the narrative may be driven by media interests rather than genuine conflict between the players.

The Original Flashpoint 2023 NCAA Championship and the Gesture

The rivalry between Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark did not begin with a single moment, but no moment has defined the public perception of their relationship more than the 2023 NCAA Women's Basketball Championship game. LSU defeated Iowa, and during the final moments of the game, Reese directed a gesture toward Clark — the same "you can't see me" wave that Clark herself had used earlier in the tournament.

The gesture, combined with a ring-pointing motion, was immediately captured by cameras and became the subject of intense national debate. What followed was a predictable cycle of hot takes.

Reese was called classless by some commentators. Others pointed out that Clark had made the same gesture in previous games without facing similar criticism.

The double standard was glaring, and the discussion quickly moved beyond basketball into questions of race, gender, and how female athletes are policed for their behavior. Clark, to her credit, addressed the situation directly.

In April 2023, she defended Reese, stating that Reese should not be criticized for the gesture. Clark pointed out that trash-talking and celebrating have always been part of sports, especially men's sports, and that the criticism directed at Reese was disproportionate.

This public defense from Clark complicated the simple "feud" narrative that many in the media were pushing. The 2023 championship game set the stage for everything that followed.

Every subsequent matchup between Reese and Clark was framed through the lens of that game, even when both players were making clear that they did not share the animosity that fans and media projected onto them.

The College Rematch and the "Don't Hate Each Other" Statement

The next chapter in the rivalry came when LSU and Iowa scheduled a rematch for the 2023-2024 season. The game was anticipated as one of the biggest regular-season matchups in women's college basketball history, with ticket prices skyrocketing and national media coverage intensifying.

Ahead of that game, Reese addressed the narrative directly. In comments reported by ESPN, Reese said the two stars "don't hate each other." She elaborated that the media and fans had created a story that did not reflect the actual relationship between the two players.

This was an important moment because it was Reese herself pushing back against the framing that had been imposed on her. Reese's statement was notable for several reasons.

First, it was a public and clear denial of the feud narrative. Second, it came at a time when the story had reached a fever pitch, with both players being asked about each other at every press conference.

Third, it showed a level of media savvy from Reese, who understood that the perception of a feud was driving interest but who also wanted to control her own narrative. The game itself lived up to the hype, but the aftermath was more telling.

Both players showed respect for each other after the game, and the expected fireworks did not materialize. This was a pattern that would repeat itself in their professional careers: the media built up the matchup, but the players themselves continued to insist that the rivalry was more about competition than conflict.

The WNBA Years Physical Play and the "Villain" Framing

When both players entered the WNBA — Clark with the Indiana Fever and Reese with the Chicago Sky — the rivalry was expected to continue at the professional level. And it did, but not always in ways that either player controlled.

Their first WNBA matchups were marked by intense physical play. In one game, Reese was criticized for a foul on Clark that many fans described as "dirty." Video showed Reese appearing to shove Clark by the neck in an effort to keep her away from the ball.

The play was dissected endlessly on social media, with fans taking sides and the "villain" narrative around Reese growing stronger. Another incident saw Reese caught mocking Clark by flailing around during a game, an act that was interpreted by some as petty jealousy.

Fox News contributor OutKick Sports described Reese as "the villain in this one-sided rivalry," a framing that has been consistently applied to her throughout her career. This is where the story becomes more complicated.

While Reese has been cast as the aggressor and the antagonist, the reality is more nuanced. A Reddit discussion among Chicago Sky fans raised an important question: Is Angel Reese misunderstood, or is the rivalry real?

One fan noted that Reese is "often portrayed in a negative light" and questioned whether this is an accurate reflection of who she is or whether the media is "just trying to capitalize on it because it sells."

This fan observation points to a larger truth about how sports media operates. Rivalries drive ratings.

They generate clicks. They create content across platforms.

And when you have two young, talented, marketable athletes — one white and one Black — the temptation to frame their competition through the lens of personal animosity becomes almost irresistible, especially when race is already a subtext. The Guardian weighed in on this dynamic in May 2025, with a column titled "The Caitlin Clark-Angel Reese rivalry is becoming a mirror for American bigotry." The piece argued that the coverage of the rivalry has increasingly reflected broader societal tensions, with fans and commentators projecting their own biases onto the two players.

This analysis suggests that the rivalry is less about what happens on the court and more about what the matchup represents to different audiences.

Media Amplification vs. Player Reality

One of the most persistent themes in the Reese-Clark story is the gap between how the media frames their relationship and what the players themselves say. This is not unusual in sports, but the gap here is particularly wide.

On one side, you have the media machine. Every game between the Fever and Sky is treated as a referendum on their relationship.

Every hard foul is analyzed for intent. Every gesture is subjected to frame-by-frame scrutiny.

Social media amplifies the most inflammatory takes, and cable news segments are built around the controversy of the week. On the other side, you have the players.

Reese has said they don't hate each other. Clark has defended Reese against criticism.

Neither player has said anything that suggests genuine animosity. In fact, their public statements have been consistently respectful, even as the coverage around them has become increasingly heated.

This disconnect raises uncomfortable questions about the sports media ecosystem. Are fans being served by coverage that manufactures conflict where none exists?

Or is the conflict real, and are the players simply being diplomatic in public? The available evidence suggests the former — that the rivalry is more manufactured than organic.

The Reddit fan perspective is instructive here. The question of whether Reese is misunderstood or whether the rivalry is real reflects genuine uncertainty among even dedicated fans.

Some see a player who has been unfairly cast as a villain because of media narratives that trade on racial stereotypes. Others see a player whose on-court behavior — the flailing, the physical fouls, the gestures — has created problems for herself.

What makes this story so compelling is that both interpretations contain elements of truth. Reese has engaged in behavior that invites criticism.

She has also been subjected to criticism that she does not deserve. The same can be said for the coverage itself: it has elevated women's basketball to new heights of visibility while simultaneously reducing two talented athletes to caricatures.

Where the Rivalry Goes From Here

As of September 2026, both Reese and Clark are established WNBA stars. Their careers will continue to intersect, and the media will continue to frame their matchups as battles in an ongoing war.

But the players themselves appear to have moved past the narrative, focusing instead on their own development and their teams' success. The reality is that rivalries in sports do not require animosity.

Some of the greatest rivalries in sports history were built on mutual respect. Magic Johnson and Larry Bird were not friends during their college and early NBA years, but they developed a deep respect for each other that transcended their competition.

Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova competed fiercely for years without ever becoming friends, but their rivalry was about tennis, not personal dislike. The Reese-Clark rivalry has the potential to follow a similar trajectory.

The games are exciting. The stakes are high.

The talent is undeniable. If the coverage can shift from manufactured conflict to genuine competition, this rivalry could become one of the defining stories of women's basketball for a generation.

That shift, however, will require a change in how the story is told. It will require media outlets to stop framing every interaction as evidence of a feud.

It will require fans to resist the temptation to take sides based on race or personality. And it will require patience — the kind of patience that allows rivalries to develop naturally, rather than being force-fed to an audience that has been trained to expect conflict.

For Reese, the path forward is clear. She has already stated her position: there is no hate between her and Clark.

The question is whether the media and fans are willing to accept that answer. Based on the coverage of the last few years, the answer is uncertain.

But as both players continue to succeed and grow, the story may eventually write itself — not as a feud, but as a rivalry between two of the most talented players in the history of women's basketball.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark ever actually have a personal feud?

Based on public statements, no. Angel Reese has explicitly said that she and Caitlin Clark "don't hate each other." Caitlin Clark has also defended Reese against criticism.

The perception of a feud appears to be driven largely by media coverage and fan engagement rather than any genuine personal conflict between the players.

What started the Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark rivalry?

The rivalry is most commonly traced to the 2023 NCAA Women's Basketball Championship game, when LSU defeated Iowa. During the game, Reese directed a gesture toward Clark that Clark herself had used earlier in the tournament.

The moment went viral and sparked intense debate about sportsmanship, race, and double standards in how female athletes are judged.

Why is Angel Reese called the "villain" in the rivalry?

Media outlets, including OutKick Sports, have framed Reese as "the villain in this one-sided rivalry." This characterization is based on her on-court behavior, including gestures directed at Clark, physical fouls, and what some have interpreted as mocking behavior. However, critics of this framing argue that Reese has been unfairly cast in this role due to racial bias and media narratives that manufacture conflict for engagement.

Has Caitlin Clark ever responded to Angel Reese's gestures or fouls?

Yes. Clark has publicly defended Reese, saying in April 2023 that Reese should not be criticized for the gesture directed toward her.

Clark noted that trash-talking has always been part of sports, particularly men's sports, and suggested that the criticism of Reese was disproportionate.

Are Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark still rivals in the WNBA?

Both players are active WNBA stars, with Reese playing for the Chicago Sky and Clark playing for the Indiana Fever. Their matchups continue to draw significant attention, but based on player statements, the rivalry is competitive rather than personal.

The media continues to frame their games as significant events, and coverage of their matchups remains intense.

Reference Notes

Information in this article is based on publicly available sources. Some details may change over time.

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