# Clark–Reese rivalry

The Clark–Reese rivalry or Reese–Clark rivalry is a rivalry between basketball players Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. The rivalry has been propelled by media and fans since the 2023 NCAA Division I women's basketball championship game, where Reese's LSU Tigers defeated Clark's Iowa Hawkeyes. Publications have credited the rivalry for increasing public interest in women's basketball, both in college and in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), and its racial undertones have been widely discussed in the media.

## History
### Background

Clark and Reese first met on the court on the Amateur Athletic Union circuit, playing for All Iowa Attack and Team Takeover, respectively. Reese was considered the number two player in her high school class by ESPN, while Clark was ranked number four in the same class. They played against each other during Big Ten play in their first two college seasons, with Reese's Maryland team defeating Clark's Iowa team in all three meetings.

### Origin

In the 2023 NCAA Division I women's basketball championship game, Reese led LSU to its first national title, defeating Clark's Iowa team, and was named Most Outstanding Player. With an average of 9.9 million viewers, it became the most-watched women's college basketball game in history. At the end of the game, Reese taunted Clark, making a "you can't see me" gesture, which Clark had made earlier in the tournament. Reese also pointed to her ring finger in reference to LSU's imminent championship ring. Following the game, Reese faced substantial criticism for perceived unsportsmanlike behavior, while many, including Clark, defended her actions as competitive. Some in the media contended that she faced harsher criticism for her taunts because she is black, while Clark, who is white, did not receive the same level of scrutiny. Reese's taunt has been described as the beginning of a rivalry between her and Clark.

### Future meetings

The final college meeting between Clark and Reese took place in the Elite Eight of the 2024 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament. Clark recorded 41 points and 12 assists, leading Iowa to a win over LSU, while Reese had 17 points and 20 rebounds before fouling out. At the time, the game was the most-watched women's college basketball game in history, with an average of 12.3 million viewers.
Both players were both first-round picks in the 2024 WNBA draft, with Clark being selected first overall by the Indiana Fever and Reese being selected by the Chicago Sky with the seventh pick. On June 1, 2024, they met in the WNBA for the first time, with the Fever defeating the Sky. During the game, Reese clapped on the bench after Sky guard Chennedy Carter fouled and knocked Clark to the floor on an inbounds play, although it was not clear why she clapped at Carter. Reese was fined $1,000 for not making herself available to reporters after the game. Bob Costas said the flagrant foul committed against Reese less than a week earlier received very little media attention because both Reese and the player who fouled her are black, therefore no one could invent a narrative about the nature of the foul. Cari Champion added that fouls like Carter's happened since the league's inception.

## Commentary

Reese has often been characterized as the antagonist of the rivalry, a role she has accepted to help her teammates and generate more interest in women's basketball. However, some journalists have criticized the portrayal of her as a villain, disputing its accuracy. Reese and Clark have both publicly downplayed in their rivalry. After the 2023 NCAA championship game, Clark described herself as a fan of Reese, who praised Clark later that year. Before their meeting in the 2024 NCAA tournament, Reese clarified that the rivalry was "not personal," and both characterized their relationship as being driven by competition. Later that year, Clark discussed her relationship with Reese, saying "We're not best friends, by any means, but we're very respectful of one another."
The Clark–Reese rivalry has drawn comparisons to the rivalry between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, which helped popularize the NBA in the 1980s. Analysts have noted both rivalries' impact on television viewership and attendance, as well as their racial undertones. WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert praised the rivalry for drawing attention to the league, when asked about its dark tone during an appearance on CNBC program Power Lunch in 2024. She was condemned by the Women's National Basketball Players Association for not addressing the abusive discourse faced by players due to the rivalry, before apologizing in a letter to players.