During the 2023 Women’s NCAA Tournament final between the LSU Tigers and the University of Iowa Hawkeyes, the spotlight was intensely focused on the rivalry between standout players Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark.
However, in the ESPN+ docuseries “Full Court Press,” Caitlin Clark, the recent #1 overall pick in the WNBA Draft, voiced her displeasure about the rivalry overshadowing her team’s accomplishments.
“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 said in one episode of ESPN’s new docuseries “Full Court Press.”
In 2023, Reese’s Tigers defeated Clark’s Hawkeyes 102-85. A rematch in the 2024 Women’s NCAA Tournament saw Iowa claim victory over LSU with a score of 94-87 in the Elite Eight. Angel Reese, picked #7 overall by the Chicago Sky in this year’s draft, clarified in the docuseries that their rivalry is purely competitive and not personal.
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“For me, I don’t think people realize it’s not personal,” Reese stated. “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.”
As both players embark on their WNBA careers, Clark is set to debut with the Indiana Fever against the Connecticut Sun, while Reese will start with the Chicago Sky against the Dallas Wings.
Their first professional encounter is scheduled for June 1, and it is anticipated to be one of the most-watched regular season games in WNBA history.
