In one of the most anticipated clashes, numerous tuned in to watch Angel Reese’s LSU Tigers face off against Caitlin Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes. The game turned out to be as eventful as expected, with the Hawkeyes taking home the win through a score of 94-87. While Clark rejoiced, Reese reportedly didn’t seem to have taken the loss well. Along with being visibly upset, the player was also seen shedding a few tears during the post-game presser. She went on to claim that she hasn’t been happy since her championship win last year due to constantly receiving “death threats” and being “threatened” by various individuals.

For quite some time now, former Philadelphia 76ers legend Charles Barkley has been the proud host of his very own CNN show titled ‘King Charles’. On the 4th, prominent ESPN sportscaster Stephen A. Smith appeared on the same to discuss Angel Reese’s emotional breakdown. Smith stated his opinion that Reese received so much hate due to the “hyperactive competition” that she shares with Caitlin Clark. While Smith agreed that Reese brought in some of the backlash due to her “braggadocious” nature, she shouldn’t have received it to such a great extent.

“She invited some of the scrutiny, no doubt, but she didn’t invite it to the degree that she received,” said Smith. “This is a young lady here, she is not a seasoned veteran…. you’re not anticipating that this level of vitriol was gonna come in your direction. Nevertheless, it did.”

Smith believes that both Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark are two apples from the same tree, taking their competitive spirit to a whole new level through their taunts and on-court prowess. The two have faced each other 5 times over the past four years. While Reese won the majority as a team (4-1), Caitlin led the individual first 4 matchup averages with 26.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 7.0 assists as compared to Reese’s 13.5, 8.0, and 2.5.

In the process, the LSU star has never shied away from making her competitive spirit known to the 22-year-old, who according to Smith was also busy “embarrassing” her opponents last year until she met her match in Reese. In the end, however, it was Reese who found the backlash to be too undeserving.

The Angel Reese ‘taunt’ that marked the beginning of her ‘rivalry’ with Caitlin Clark

Both Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark have established themselves as the most dynamic players of women’s basketball. Therefore, it was inevitable that they would sooner or later form an on-court rivalry. By listening to Reese’s reported breakdown and Smith’s above comments, fans would have been taken back to the previous year’s March Madness final which may have marked the beginning of the same.

As the Hawkeyes and the Tigers clashed back in April 2023 for the championship ring, the latter team had successfully established a lead during the fourth quarter. Angel Reese celebrated this feat by approaching Clark and making a ‘you can’t see me’ gesture by pointing at her ring finger, possibly a reference to where the championship ring would be going. By the time the Tigers secured the win, the incident was probably the second most thing being talked about amongst basketball enthusiasts.

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That one gesture reportedly created a level of backlash that continues on even today. Clark recently came out to defend her rival against the same by stating “I think everybody knew there was going to be a little trash talk in the entire tournament. It’s not just me and Angel.”

Do you agree with Stephen A Smith’s assessment? Let us know in the comments down below.

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