She BULLIED Caitlin Clark, Then Paid For It!
Sports have always been a stage for competition, passion, and rivalry, but sometimes, the drama off the court can be just as captivating as what happens during the game. As fans, we’ve seen some of the most blatant injustices in basketball history—like when Bradley Beal dropped 30 points per game in 2020 and didn’t even make the All-Star team, or when James Harden played all 82 games, averaged 29 points, and still got snubbed for All-NBA honors. We’ve witnessed Dwight Howard being left off the NBA’s Top 75 list while Damian Lillard made it. Straight-up disrespect, right?
But just when we thought we’d seen peak nonsense, ESPN dropped an absolute bombshell on August 29th, 2023. They posted a graphic asking, “Which rookie is the front-runner for WNBA Rookie of the Year?” And the kicker? They put Angel Reese ahead of Caitlin Clark.
Wait—what? You’re putting the girl who’s been bullying Caitlin Clark since college ahead of her? Now, that was personal. For anyone who follows women’s basketball, they already know the history between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. Their rivalry wasn’t just about basketball; it was personal, and this ESPN ranking only fueled the fire.
It all started in the 2023 NCAA Championship game when Angel Reese led LSU to victory over Caitlin Clark’s Iowa team. After the win, Reese performed the infamous “you can’t see me” gesture—something Clark had been known for during her own dominant performances. To top it off, Reese pointed to her ring finger, signaling her championship ring. It was competitive, sure, but the message was clear: she had one-upped Caitlin. That was just the start of their rivalry.
Fast forward to the WNBA season, and things didn’t exactly get any better. Angel Reese had a knack for getting under Caitlin’s skin, and she wasn’t subtle about it. During a game, Reese literally smacked Caitlin on the head. That wasn’t a mistake or a playful gesture—it was a smack, and Caitlin took it like a champ. But the tension didn’t stop there. Reese’s teammates shoved Caitlin to the ground, and Angel celebrated it like she had just won a championship. When the two met during All-Star weekend practice, Caitlin missed a three, and Reese nailed hers. Instead of acknowledging Caitlin, Reese went out of her way to leave her hanging, not even offering a high-five.
But as fate would have it, the two rookies were set to face off again in a highly anticipated matchup on August 30th. The stakes were high—Rookie of the Year talk was heating up, and the disrespectful ESPN post was still fresh in everyone’s mind. This game was more than just about basketball; it was a statement. On top of everything, it was Barbie Night in Chicago, and Angel Reese, ever the showman, showed up dressed like Dennis Rodman—striking poses and acting like she had already won the game before it even started.
Caitlin Clark, on the other hand, walked into the arena with a focused, business-like demeanor. No theatrics, no Rodman cosplay—just laser-focused on the task ahead. The game began, and the Chicago Sky’s defense seemed to have no answer for Caitlin’s offense. The Indiana Fever was on fire, hitting three-pointers left and right, with Kelsey Mitchell leading the charge, averaging 25 points per game since the Olympic break. By the end of the first quarter, the Fever had closed the gap to just three points. It was clear that Caitlin Clark was in her element.
As the game progressed into the second quarter, Caitlin pulled up from way beyond the arc—what seemed like an impossible shot—and sank it with ease. The crowd went wild. Angel Reese, on the other hand, struggled to keep up. She tried to respond, but no matter what she did, Caitlin was simply too good. Whether it was deep shots, smooth passes, or hyping up the crowd, Caitlin Clark was dominating.
Meanwhile, Angel Reese, trying to stay relevant in the game, was just running around, trying to pad her stats. She had been having the best three-point shooting season of her career, but she couldn’t seem to find her rhythm. The crowd cheered as Caitlin continued to shine, racking up eight assists and 15 points in the first half. Angel, meanwhile, could only muster up a few rebounds and five points—nothing compared to Caitlin’s brilliance.
As the second half unfolded, Angel Reese’s frustration continued to mount. She was visibly struggling to stay on her feet while Caitlin was in the zone. Even when her teammates got physical with Caitlin, trying to slow her down, Caitlin just brushed it off. The Fever extended their lead to 25 points. It was becoming clear that this game was turning into a blowout, and Caitlin Clark was the reason.
But it wasn’t just about the score—it was about Caitlin’s quiet revenge. This was her moment to prove a point—not through trash talk or physical confrontation, but by simply outplaying Angel Reese in every possible way. Reese had spent months trying to get under Caitlin’s skin, bullying her on and off the court, but tonight, Caitlin didn’t need to say a word. She just played the game, and her performance spoke volumes.
By the time the game ended with a 30-point lead for the Fever, Angel Reese was left trying to salvage her stat line, collecting rebounds and attempting shots in garbage time. Her final numbers were a far cry from Caitlin’s: 10 points and 11 rebounds, but most of those stats came after Caitlin had already been benched.
Online, fans immediately roasted Angel for her stat-padding performance. One tweet summed it up perfectly: “Angel Reese stat-padding a 27-point blowout is the most embarrassing thing I’ve seen.” The night had been an embarrassment for Angel, but it was a moment of redemption for Caitlin Clark. She didn’t need to talk trash. She didn’t need to get physical. She just needed to outplay Reese, and she did—on the biggest stage, in front of a sold-out Chicago crowd, on Angel’s home turf.
This game wasn’t just about the Rookie of the Year race; it was about Caitlin Clark sending a message to the entire league—and to Angel Reese—who had spent the entire season trying to tear her down. Caitlin had made it clear: she wasn’t going to let anyone bully her into submission. Instead, she let her game do all the talking.
As for Angel Reese, this was a humbling experience. She had spent months trying to provoke Caitlin Clark, but in the end, Caitlin’s quiet confidence and unmatched skill were what stole the show. Angel may have thought she had the upper hand, but Caitlin Clark had the last laugh, and the league knew it. This was just the beginning of Caitlin’s revenge tour—and the entire WNBA would soon realize that underestimating her would be their biggest mistake.
