Angel Reese Refuses to Acknowledge Caitlin Clark as Athlete of the Year: “She is More Like the Queen of Turnovers”

In an unexpected and highly charged statement, WNBA star Angel Reese has stirred the basketball world with her reaction to Caitlin Clark’s recent recognition as Athlete of the Year.

While Clark, the Iowa Hawkeyes’ standout guard, had an exceptional season and garnered widespread praise for her performances in college basketball, Reese’s comments have ignited a fiery debate on social media and in sports circles.

Angel Reese – Wikipédia

Reese, known for her bold personality and competitive spirit, did not hold back when asked about Clark’s accolade.

“She is more like the queen of turnovers,” Reese said, referring to Clark’s occasional struggles with ball security throughout the season.

“I can’t believe they gave her the title. This is so disrespectful to all women in the league. The fact that they would pick someone who has been inconsistent with her decision-making and has a high turnover rate over players who are actually putting up consistent numbers and making an impact in professional leagues, it’s a slap in the face.”

Caitlin Clark Wins Prestigious Female Athlete of the Year Award

Clark is the fourth women’s basketball player to receive the honor.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark was named the Associated Press’ Female Athlete of the Year on Tuesday for her impact both on and off the court.

She was the first overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, then went on to make the WNBA All-Star team, win the league’s rookie of the year award and earn All-WNBA First Team in her first season. Fans packed out arenas to watch Clark play and for those not local, she was must-see television.

According to the Associated Press, a group of 74 sports journalists from the AP and its members voted on the award, where Clark received 35 votes. Olympic gymnast Simone Biles was second place with 25 votes, while boxer Imane Khalif was third with four.

Team WNBA guard Clark dribbles up the court against Team USA during the WNBA All-Star Game. | Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

Clark is the fourth women’s basketball player to win the award since its inception in 1931. She joins Sheryl Swoopes (1993), Rebecca Lobo (1995) and Candace Parker (2008, 2021) as other basketball stars to receive the honor.

“I grew up a fan of Candace Parker and the people who came before me and to be honored in this way, is super special and I’m thankful,” Clark told the AP. “It was a great year for women’s basketball.”

Add it the long list of accolades in a historic year for Clark and women’s basketball.