Audio By Carbonatix
Angel Reese genuinely believes she is not safe in Indiana because of the fanbase that aligns itself with Caitlin Clark. The 23-year-old wants people to stop calling it a “rivalry” because it has created an environment that is fueled by hatred, unattached to on-court product of the WNBA.
Meanwhile, the former No. 7 overall pick is actively fueling an unnecessary race war on social media.
Reese and Clark are rivals. There are no ifs ands or buts about it. They have been rivals since the infamous “you can’t see me” hand wave during the national championship game between Iowa and LSU and the bad blood spilled over to the pros. This is a matter of fact, not opinion.
The rivalry between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese might actually be the most interesting storyline of a league that has increased in popularity since their arrival last season. However, it has now reached a point that it is no longer fun because it has nothing to do with basketball and everything to do with race.
This latest chapter in this ever-exhausting saga took place over the weekend. Clark committed a hard foul on Reese. Reese initially tried to fight Clark and yelled “you crazy as f—!” in her direction while being held back by one of the Chicago Sky’s assistant coaches.
To her credit, Reese wanted to move on from the play after the game.
That tune has since changed. The basketball play has become something much bigger than it needs to be. Race immediately became the primary focus of the conversation. All of the talking heads on the internet and on TV decided to go at each other’s throats for feeling one way or the other about what happened on the hardwood on Saturday.
This type of “drama” (for lack of better word) is what will kill the momentum of the WNBA. Gossip and rivalries are good! To constantly make much ado about nothing and make it about race is exhausting.
I even saw someone try to say that Clark getting a triple-double was racist because she didn’t come out of the game during a blowout. Those kinds of takes are not going to help the league image as it tries so hard to be taken seriously.
Angel Reese stokes the Caitlin Clark fire.
Mind you, the league is currently investigating potential racism during the most recent game between the Sky and the Fever. If actual racism took place at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, it should be punished accordingly. That fan should not be allowed in the building. There is zero tolerance for that behavior!
But here’s the thing…
You might be asking “what behavior?” Good question! Neither the league, nor either team, nor Reese provided any indication of what might’ve happened. Clark said it was way too loud to hear anything.
As this investigation continues, Angel Reese wants the world to know that she is not safe in Indianapolis because of the racism. She reposted a rant on TikTok that supposedly explains why “rivalry” is not an appropriate word to describe her relationship with Caitlin Clark because it does not reflect the severity of the alleged racism. Her repost is a direct endorsement of the full message.
I do not understand why we have yet to see or hear any confirmation of racist behavior. This is the year 2025. It would not take more than a few hours for a video to hit social media if something severe did take place. Did anything specific happen on Saturday other than the overarching label of generic racism? What was it? Are there any witnesses? We’ll see. I will hold my full judgement on this specific rant until I see the results of the WNBA investigation.
What I absolutely cannot comprehend, regardless of the investigation, is why Reese actively stoked the fire over the last 34/36/48 hours. If she is actually the victim of real racism, that is a horrible thing. That should not be taken lightly.
And yet, Reese reposted a separate video on TikTok that refers to the “white gyal running from the fade.” It is refers to how Clark walked away from the dust-up on Saturday in a way that makes it even more divisive than it already was.
I don’t get it. Angel Reese wants the racism to stop. I agree. I think we all agree! But she refuses to explain the racism that supposedly occurred and immediately brought race into the conversation on TikTok with a nasty shot at Caitlin Clark for being white and scared. That seems contradictory and counterintuitive.
Maybe the WNBA will stop shooting itself in the foot when it comes to how it handles controversy. Maybe not. Either way, this ongoing discourse about Reese, Clark and race is the quickest way for new fans to stop watching. I am very quickly losing interest in the league and I know I’m not the only one.