Gray News/CNN) – Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese is continuing to make headlines along with the rest of her WNBA rookie class.
Reese said she would take the “bad guy role” when reporters asked about her rivalry with Caitlin Clark if it meant continued growth for women’s basketball.
The Chicago rookie made those comments following a physical game against Clark, the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s WNBA draft, and the Indiana Fever last Saturday that has sparked a continued debate.
In the third quarter, Reese’s teammate Chennedy Carter knocked Clark down during a stoppage in play. Carter was later charged with a flagrant foul.
Reese was seen clapping in support of Carter after the hard foul. She refused to speak to the media after the game and the league fined her $1,000.
The Reese-Clark rivalry has been a subject after Reese was seen taunting Clark following her LSU team’s victory over Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes in the national title game in 2023.
“It all started in the National Championship game – I’ve been dealing with this for two years now,” Reese told reporters on Monday.
And the No. 7 pick in the 2024 draft didn’t seem to back away from her perceived villain role in the Clark rivalry.
“Look where women’s basketball is. People are talking about women’s basketball that you never would think would be talking about women’s basketball,” she said. “People are pulling up to games, we got celebrities coming to games, sold out arenas, just because of [the 2023 NCAA championship game].”
Reese added, “And just looking at that, I’ll take that role. I’ll take the bad guy role, and I’ll continue to take that on and be that for my teammates. I’ll look back in 20 years and be like, ‘Yeah, the reason why we’re watching women’s basketball is not just because of one person. It’s because of me too,’ and I want y’all to realize that.”
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