“Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese being used in a race war”: RGIII suggests WNBA discourse is getting out of hand
Caitlin Clark's arrival in the WNBA has sparked heightened interest in the league. However, Clark has also sparked some controversies, with none bigger than her on-court feud with rival Angel Reese.
Former NFL QB Robert Griffin III chimed in regarding the recent drama after the clash between Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky last Sunday. This game once featured several fouls on both sides of the court, including the much-talked-about flagrant foul by Reese on Clark, which garnered a lot of reactions on social media. Griffin took issue with the entire conversation around the foul. He wrote on X (formerly Twitter):
“Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese are being used in a race war that is not fair to either athlete or the game of basketball.”
The former Baltimore Ravens QB insists that the athletes continue with their game and not focus on the media narrative that is being built around Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese.
The rivalry of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese
Caitlin Clark became the overall first pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, while Angel Reese was not far behind, being drafted in the seventh position. The two have been competing against each other for years now, including their four years in college basketball.
However, after the recent flagrant foul being called on Reese, the Maryland native denied any wrongdoing to the media after the game. She said:
“Going back and looking at the film, I’ve seen a lot of calls that weren’t made. I guess some people got a special whistle. But just being able to play hard as best as we can.”
While Reese called out the refs for supposed bias, Clark took the opportunity to not fuel the flames on the matter. Clark said to the media:
“I think it’s just the emotion and passion we play with. I think people love to see that, and I think that’s maybe not something that was always appreciated in women’s sports.”
These two youngsters have a lot of basketball to play against each other. Only time will tell whether they heed RGIII's advice or go by the narrative.