Angel Reese reveals what she whispered into Caitlin Clark’s ear during hug after LSU’s loss to Iowa
Angel Reese insisted before Monday’s highly anticipated LSU-Iowa March Madness matchup that there is no hate between her and Caitlin Clark.
The two displayed that after LSU’s loss to Iowa in the Elite Eight, as they shared a hug after the game with Reese whispering something into Clark’s ear.
Reese, 21, and Clark, 22, embraced while in the handshake line, and ESPN’s Ryan Ruocco, who called the game with Basketball Hall of Famer Rebecca Lobo, said there was a murmur moment.
Reese shared the words she and Clark exchanged after the game.
“She just told me, ‘Continue to be a great player,’” Reese said in a postgame press conference, during which she became emotional while discussing the scrutiny she’s endured.
“And I told her, ‘Continue to be a great player, as well, and keep elevating the game and go win it.’”
Reese and Clark have continued to maintain that they do not have beef after LSU beat Iowa in last year’s title game, 102-85.
Reese famously waved her hand in front of Clark’s face — the “you can’t see me” gesture — as the Tigers took down Hawkeyes in the 2023 NCAA Women’s Championship.
Reese received criticism and scrutiny on a national level for her showmanship and unapologetic attitude — but Clark defended her after it.
The Baltimore native also supported Clark when the Iowa-born guard broke the NCAA Division I women’s basketball scoring record this season.
Prior to the LSU-Iowa Elite Eight matchup, Reese described her and Clark’s relationship as being “super competitive” and explained they do not hate each other.
“I don’t think people realize it’s not personal,” Reese said Sunday.
“Once we get out between those lines, if I see you walking down the street, it’s like, ‘Hey, girl, what’s up? Let’s hang out.’ I think people just take it like we hate each other. Me and Caitlin Clark don’t hate each other. I want everybody to understand that. It’s just a super-competitive game. Once I get between those lines, there’s no friends. I’m going to talk trash to you. I’m going to do whatever it takes to get in your head the whole entire game, but after the game, we can kick it. I don’t think people really realize that.”
“That’s fine. I’ll take the villain role. I’ll take the hit for it, but I know we’re growing women’s basketball. If this is the way we’re going to do it, then this is the way we’re going to do it. You either like it or you don’t.”
Reese recorded 17 points and 20 rebounds in 36 minutes before she fouled out with just under two minutes in the fourth quarter.
Clark finished with 41 points — including nine 3-pointers — 12 assists, seven rebounds, two steals and one block in Monday’s win over LSU to advance to the Final Four.
Clark declared for the 2024 WNBA Draft and is the consensus No. 1 pick, which is owned by the Indiana Fever.
Reese has the option to return to LSU for one more year or she can declare for the draft, where she’s a projected first-round pick.
She has 48 hours after the loss to decide if she’s declaring for the draft, which will be held on April 15 in Brooklyn.
