Caitlin Clark doesn’t appreciate how the fans’ obsession over her rivalry with Angel Reese overshadowed Iowa State University’s 2024 NCAA achievements. “That’s the only thing people wanted to talk about when we just went on this magical run and united so many people, and that, like, was frustrating to me,” Clark revealed during the “Full Court Press” docuseries, which aired on ESPN+ over Mother’s Day weekend 2024 (via the New York Post).
Reese also spoke out about how her rivalry with Clark took precedence over LSU’s feats. “It was frustrating, but to see how much we’ve grown women’s basketball over the past few weeks,” Reese said in a May 2023 appearance on Jennifer Hudson’s talk show. “9.9 million people watched the game, that’s more than the men … I’m so happy that we won the championship, and I wish it was more talked about … as much as they talked about the Caitlin situation.”
With that said, Reese chimed in later in the ESPN+ doc and assured fans the tension between them wasn’t personal. “For me, I don’t think people realize it’s not personal,” Reese said (via BroBible). “I think people just take it like we hate each other. Me and Caitlin Clark don’t hate each other. I want everybody to understand that. It’s just a super competitive game. I just wish people would realize that,” she continued.
