Women’s college basketball has never been more popular than it is now, largely due to the intense rivalry between two of the game’s biggest stars, Iowa’s Caitlin Clark and LSU’s Angel Reese. Both players have achieved incredible success in their collegiate careers, with Clark becoming the all-time NCAA scoring leader and Reese being named SEC Player of the Year. This heightened level of talent and competition has brought a new era to the sport, culminating in a highly anticipated Elite Eight showdown between the Hawkeyes and Tigers on April 1, following a rematch of last year’s NCAA National Championship Game where LSU defeated Iowa.
During the Championship Game, Reese engaged in a controversial display of gamesmanship towards Clark by making taunting gestures and comments, leading to backlash from critics who accused her of lacking sportsmanship. Reese defended her actions by pointing out the double standard and the different treatment she received compared to Clark’s similar gestures earlier in the tournament. Clark, however, defended Reese and praised her as a tremendous competitor, highlighting the importance of trash talk and competitiveness in the game of basketball.
The controversy continued when the White House extended an invitation to both teams for a celebration, leading Reese to express her disapproval by calling it a joke. Despite her initial hesitance, Reese later agreed to visit the White House and even presented the first lady and President Biden with custom LSU jerseys. Throughout the commotion, Reese and Clark displayed a mutual respect for each other and emphasized that their rivalry is purely competitive and not personal.
As their collegiate careers came to a close, both Clark and Reese shifted their focus to the WNBA draft. Clark was selected as the No. 1 pick by the Indiana Fever, while Reese was chosen seventh overall by the Chicago Sky. Their success in college basketball has now paved the way for them to continue making an impact at the professional level. The intense rivalry between Clark and Reese has contributed to growing interest in women’s basketball and has helped raise the profile of the sport, as both players continue to showcase their competitive fire and determination to succeed on the court.
