Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark are the WNBA’s two fastest-rising stars and will forever be tied together thanks to their matchups at the collegiate level and coming into the league together. But again, Reese made it clear that she has nothing but respect for Clark. Even if that isn’t always portrayed in the media.
On the debut episode of Reese’s new podcast called Unapologetically Angel, she once again addressed her relationship with Clark, saying that she has always only had respect for her fellow rookie standout.
“I think just being in that moment of it happening, you never know how something can really change your life,” said Reese. “Knowing that my five fingers and my other finger pointing at my hand can literally have changed my life forever. It’s crazy. Caitlin is an amazing player. I’ve always thought she was an amazing player. We’ve been playing each other since high school. There’s never been beef. We talked trash to each other in AAU, it’s been that.
“So I think it’s just been the fans. Her fans, the Iowa fans, now the Indiana fans. They ride for her, and I respect that respectfully. But sometimes it’s very disrespectful.”
Reese then went on to share numerous instances where fans of Clark have gone far beyond the normal realm of trash talk, including racist remarks and several moments of harassment.
“I think there is a lot of racism when it comes to it,” Reese added. “I don’t believe she stands for any of that. But when it is behind your name, a lot of people go ‘Oh, I don’t like her because her fans are saying this’. I don’t believe in her heart that she has hatred towards me. And I’m sure she believes I don’t have hatred towards her. But her fanbase has gone… It’s a lot.
“Basketball is literally a game. We’ve had so much fun with it. But when it comes to death threats. Like I’m talking people have come down to my address. Followed me home. It’s come down to that. Multiple occasions, people have made AI pictures of me like naked. They have sent it to my family members. My family members… Uncles have sent it to me like ‘Are you naked on Instagram?’ It sucks to see that and it’s really hard that I have to go through that.”
Reese and Clark have clearly shown on multiple occasions that there is respect between the two, and that their battles on the court are nothing more than just that.
But clearly, fans of the WNBA are failing to detach from the game and are spreading hate off the court, which is truly disappointing to see given the impact that both Clark and Reese have had on the growth of the sport.
