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Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese spoke on a number of topics in a recent feature article from Wall Street Journal’s Rachel Bachman, who broke down the WNBA’s massive, record-breaking 2024 season.
Among other comments, Reese expressed a desire for her and Caitlin Clark to be teammates someday and spoke about the oft-discussed trash talk between the two when they were competing in college.
“We brought a lot of fans to this league,” Reese said regarding her and Clark. “And I think we’re going to continue to do that. And one day, hopefully, we’ll be teammates.”
Reese and Clark teamed up on the WNBA All-Stars squad in a 117-109 win over Team USA in the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game. It’s certainly possible that they team up on All-Star teams many times in the future. However, eyes are also on 2028, when Reese and Clark can represent Team USA at the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
It’s clear Reese and Clark have great respect for one another on the court, even if they’ve talked trash on the court. That hit a fever pitch during the 2023 NCAA championship game, when Reese’s LSU Tigers beat Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes.
Reese hit Clark with the John Cena “You Can’t See Me” taunt, something the ex-Iowa star has done in the past. She also gestured to her ring finger, indicating her future championship.
There was much unnecessary consternation and publicity over the trash talk. On that, Reese noted: “It’s just a full-circle moment of how women are viewed when it comes to trash-talking. It’s okay in men’s sports. We’re going to normalize that in women’s sports as well. So it’s just super-competitive. I think we’re two great competitors.”
Clark wasn’t bothered by it, saying last year:
“We’re all competitive. We all show our emotions in a different way,” Clark said, per Ryan Glasspiegel of the New York Post.
“Angel’s a tremendous, tremendous player. I have nothing but respect for her. I love her game, the way she rebounds the ball, scores the ball is absolutely incredible. I’m a big fan of her. Even the whole LSU team, the way they played. I don’t think there should be any criticism for what she did.
“I honestly didn’t see it when the game was going on and like I said I haven’t been on social media at all.”
Year one is done for both Reese and Clark.
Reese averaged 13.6 points and 13.1 rebounds per game, breaking the WNBA’s single-season record for boards. Clark posted 19.2 points, 8.4 assists and 5.7 rebounds, setting the WNBA’s single-season assists mark.
Expectations will be great for both in year two, but for now, the WNBA Finals still move along as the New York Liberty search for their first-ever title against the Minnesota Lynx. New York leads the best-of-five series two games to one. Game 4 will take place in Minneapolis on Friday at 8 p.m. ET.
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