Caitlin Clark says Angel Reese 'should never be criticized' for postgame trash talk

Iowa guard Caitlin Clark has weighed in on the discussion around LSU star Angel Reese and the celebrations during Sunday’s women’s national championship. She said she didn’t think Reese deserved to be criticized.

Clark joined Jeremy Schapp for “Outside The Lines” on Tuesday’s edition of SportsCenter and addressed the discussion around the trash-talking at the end of Sunday’s game. The conversation started when Reese did the “You can’t see me” gesture — a la John Cena — toward Clark in the final minute of LSU’s 102-85 victory. She’s been accused of being “classless” and “unsportsmanlike” as a result.

Clark, who also did the gesture in the Elite Eight, didn’t see it that way, though. She told Schapp she doesn’t think criticism is warranted.

“I don’t think Angel should be criticized at all,” Clark told Schapp. “No matter which way it goes, she should never be criticized for what she did. I’m just one that competes and she competed. I think everybody knew there was going to be a little trash talking the entire tournament. It’s not just me and Angel. So I don’t think she should be criticized, like I said. LSU deserves it. They played so well. Like I said, I’m a big fan of hers.”

Much of the criticism has gone Reese’s way, but Clark joined the chorus of voices defending her and reiterated she doesn’t see it that way. She said it was a case of two competitors in the heat of a big game and there’s no ill will toward Reese, who she respects.

“I think the biggest thing is we’re all competitive, we all show our emotions in a different way,” Clark said. “Angel’s a tremendous, tremendous player. I have nothing but respect for her. I love her game. The way she rebounds the ball, scores the ball is absolutely incredible. I’m a big fan of her. And even the entire LSU team, like I said, they played an amazing game. I don’t think there should be any criticism for what she did. I honestly didn’t see it when the game was going on and like I said, I haven’t been on social media really at all.

“I’m just trying to reflect back on what this team did and enjoy every single second with my teammates because we have two really good seniors that are moving on that have meant a lot. They’ve been some of my best friends while I’ve been here at the University of Iowa. I’m just lucky enough that I got to play on that stage and have that opportunity with them. I believe I get to play for one of the best coaches of all time in Coach Bluder. She believes in me more than anybody ever has. I’m just, more than anything, lucky.”

Caitlin Clark on the Angel Reese situation: ‘You should be able to play with emotion’

Another part of the conversation about the trash-talking is how gender plays a role. Clark said part of what makes sports great is how players showcase their emotion in the heat of a battle, especially in men’s sports. As women’s basketball continues to grow — Women’s Final Four viewership was through the roof — that passion could help get more eyes on the sport.

“I think men have always had trash talk,” Clark said. “That’s what it’s been, and I think more and more people as they turn on the game, they’re appreciating it for what it is. I’m just lucky enough that I get to play this game and have emotion and wear it on my sleeve, and so does everybody else. So that should never be torn down, that should never be criticized because I believe that’s what makes this game so fun. That’s what draws people to this game, that’s what draws it to the pro level, to college level, to the high school level. So either way, it doesn’t matter. You should be able to play with that emotion. That’s what makes it so fun.

“Nobody wants to tune in and not see people be competitive and passionate about what they’re doing, across any sport. That’s how it should be. I believe that’s what it should be. That’s how I’m going to continue to play, that’s how every girl should continue to play. I’m just glad we have fans that support us and want to watch that type of basketball.”

Caitlin Clark: National championship vs. LSU was a ‘competitive, super, super fun game’

Of course, with more attention on the game comes more talk about the game. Much of the talk was about Reese and the trash-talking at the end of the game, though, and Clark said she hasn’t seen much of it because she hasn’t checked her feeds much.

Still, she thinks a competitive game will draw people back in the future, and LSU deserves plenty of praise for how it played.

“Honestly, I haven’t been on social media a ton since we lost,” Clark said. “But I think the biggest thing is it was a competitive, super, super fun game. And I think that’s what’s going to bring more people to our game. I think the viewership speaks for itself over the past tournament run. But even before that, our Big Ten Tournament championship game had huge amount of viewers, as well. So I’m just lucky to be on that stage, competing against some of the best players and I think people are really starting to realize how good our game is, how good the product is so when you turn on the TV, they understand it, they keep coming back for more.

“But all the credit in the world to LSU. They played tremendous, they made a lot of tough shots on us. Kim Mulkey’s one of the best coaches of all time. You’ve got to give them a lot of credit. But I think we have so much to be proud of and that’s what Coach Bluder told us after the game is don’t hang your head. Hold it high because you have a lot to celebrate, a lot to be proud of and you made a lot of history for the state of Iowa.”