After the Fever defeated the Sky in a heated game, Angel Reese expressed her frustration about the officiating, particularly the lack of calls when she and her team were in the paint. Reese observed this discrepancy even more when rewatching the game, and she also criticized Caitlin Clark for receiving favorable treatment from WNBA referees.
Reese remarked, “From inside, I think we were playing really hard. I think we went up really strong a lot of times and we didn’t get a lot of calls. Going back and looking at (game) film, I’ve seen a lot of calls that weren’t made. I guess some people got a special whistle.”
Reese’s dissatisfaction with the officiating was evident, especially after she was called for a flagrant foul on Clark for hitting her on the head while attempting to block a shot. Opinions were divided on this incident; some thought Reese should have been ejected, while others believed her actions were not malicious and she was simply going for the ball.
The rivalry between Reese and Clark dates back to their college days, notably when Reese’s LSU team defeated Clark’s Iowa State team to win the NCAA Women’s Championship. During that game, Reese famously mocked Clark with John Cena’s ‘you can’t see me’ gesture, a move Clark had used earlier in the tournament.
Since then, both players have entered the WNBA as top lottery picks. Their impact on the league has been significant, with both credited for contributing to the rising popularity of the WNBA. Even NBA legend Magic Johnson has praised their influence on the sport.
Despite the competitive rivalry, Caitlin Clark has expressed respect for Angel Reese. After the game, Clark spoke highly of Reese and their mutual competition, emphasizing the positive impact their rivalry has on women’s basketball.
Clark stated, “I think what she has done with her platform has been absolutely incredible. She has an entire fanbase that has supported her. What she did at Maryland, and then LSU – obviously I’ve played her for a very long time. She’s been a tremendous player.”
“It’s been fun getting to compete against (her), I think it’s been good for the game and people just love seeing great matchups. But also at the same time, people tune in for these matchups, but people also get to see how great these teams are. And they find new players to support. And (they) continue to come back for them too, so I think that’s another benefit of it, honestly.”
While both players consider each other rivals, it is clear that there is a healthy mutual respect between them. Clark and Reese are viewed as future stalwarts of the WNBA, with fans anticipating their rivalry to have an impact similar to that of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird’s legendary NBA rivalry in the 1980s.
Though the unpredictable nature of basketball means nothing is certain, fans can look forward to seeing these two superstars compete at the highest level for years to come.
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