The two WNBA Rookie of the Year candidates have had mixed emotions towards each other in the past.

Clark

Clarklapresse

Caitlin Clark vocally came out in support of the Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese by prasiing her talents after the 22-year-old suffered a season-ending injury against the Los Angeles Sparks on Friday, September 9.

Reese fell to the floor during the Sky‘s victory over the Californian counterparts and fractured her wrist, requiring surgery that will take a minimum of six weeks and see her debut season in the WNBA ended prematurely.The ex-LSU Tiger had a memorable start to life as a professional basketball player by averaging 13.6 points and 13.1 rebounds per game and she left an impression on those around her, including Clark, her rival, who said she was “sad” to see Reese hurt.

“It’s obviously, definitely sad, anytime you see anybody go down with an injury, especially people that you came into this league with,” Clark told media at a press conference. “Whether it was Cam (Brink), whether it was Angel, and especially Angel.

“Like, you want to see her finish out this year, obviously, she’s had a historic year, and she’s done some incredible things. For me, getting to play against her, her motor is up there, if not the best in the league, like she just doesn’t stop working.

“So you know, congratulations to her, I thought she had a tremendous year, and I thought she came to the league and really did what she’s done well her entire career, as long as I’ve known her. So it’s definitely devastating. That’s never anything you want to see from a player.”

Clark calls for respect for Reese

The pair have been rivals since their time in the NCAA when Reese notably gloated about winning the Women’s Division I Championship to her face on court as the LSU Tigers defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes in 2023.

Clark then eliminated Reese from March Madness around 12 months later, before they graduated to the WNBA where their rivalry has not weakened as they battle it out for the Rookie of the Year Award.

Together, they have helped push the league to a new wave of interest from basketball fans within the United States and around the world as TV ratings have spiked in 2024, as has in-person attendances to games.

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Sometimes though, their rivalry gets too hot with on-court fouls and harsh words in the media but Clark appears to see it as all part of the game as she calls for Reese to be respected.

“I don’t think Angel should be criticized at all,” Clark said to ESPN in 2023 of Reese. “No matter which way it goes, she should never be criticized.”