ESPN news: Caitlin Clark response to Angel Reese’s ‘taunting’ claim

The star of the Indiana Fever, Caitlin Clark, calls the claims made by another female basketball player, Angel Reese, that she was “taunting” her “frustrating.”

In the new ESPN+ documentary series “Full Court Press,” which offers a behind-the-scenes look at the players while following Clark, Kiki Rice, and Kamilla Cardoso during their 2023–24 collegiate women’s basketball season, Clark talked about the incident.

In video clips released by Women Hooping on May 11, Clark is heard saying, “That’s the only thing people wanted to talk about when we just went on this magical run and united so many people, and that was frustrating to me,” in reference to the “taunting” claims.

Both Reese and Clark made an on-court gesture that led to the accusations of “taunting.”

Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark Discussed the Gestures in Post-Game Media Interviews

According to the video, Reese “mimicked a previous celebration” by Clark when he was still a player for LSU, which sparked the dispute.

Reese gestured toward Clark during an LSU-University of Iowa game, “a signal made famous by wrestling star John Cena,” according to Fox Sports.

Fox Sports said that she followed Clark “around the basketball court in the final moments of the 2023 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament championship game” and “then pointed towards her ring finger in a reference to the championship ring she was about to win.”

Fox Sports claimed that Clark had done the same Cena gesture “in Iowa’s Elite Eight win over Louisville when she had a 40-point triple-double,” despite Reese’s criticism. According to Fox Sports, others claimed that Reese’s criticism demonstrated a racial double standard because Clark did not face the same response after making the identical gesture during a previous game.

The “Women Hooping” video opens with footage of the two ladies performing the gestures, and then it plays a clip of Reese declaring, “I’m too hood; I’m too ghetto,” in a post-game media interview. I’ve heard that from you all year. But you folks don’t say anything when others do it.”

Fox Sports said that she went on, saying, “So this is for the girls that look like me.” They will voice their beliefs in that way.

The next clip in the film shows Clark answering a reporter’s question during a post-game media interview.

The unnamed journalist asks, “There’s a lot going viral on Twitter about Angel Reese following you around, pointing to her ring finger, taunting you.”

To be honest, I’m clueless. “I was merely attempting to reach the line for handshakes and express my gratitude for my team’s position,” Clark explains.

The coach of Iowa claims that the media attempted to “make a circus out of racial things.”

In the docuseries excerpts, Iowa coach Lisa Bluder also touched on the Reese incident, saying, “She [Clark] just wouldn’t let it happen.” Bluder claims that the media was attempting to make a circus out of racial problems and to incite hatred.

Then, Clark is seen commenting that he is frustrated.

In a post-game media interview, Clark breaks down in tears as the video comes to an end.

In the video, Clark states, “I want the impact I can have on young kids and the people in the state of Iowa to be my legacy.” “Hopefully, I made them very happy this holiday season. I hope they had a lot of fun with this crew. I was exactly that little child, and you may experience moments like these by simply dreaming.

She went on, “I’m a rival. Again, I want to play in the national championship game. You feel as though you want to stop it immediately.

On May 11, “Full Court Press” began airing. “The four-episode series offers viewers exclusive interviews, game footage, and more during what was a historic year for women’s college basketball,” according to ESPN+. “From a season of record-breaking moments to the WNBA draft.”

When and how can I view it? “Episodes 1 and 2 premiere Saturday starting at 1 p.m. ET, and Episodes 3 and 4 on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. ET,” stated an ESPN+ post on Friday, May 10, 2024. ABC will broadcast all four episodes, which can also be seen live on the ESPN app. After their original airing, every episode will be accessible on demand on ESPN+.