Angel Reese Says She Doesn't 'Hate' Caitlin Clark, Both Players Downplay Rematch

ALBANY, NY – Leading into the most anticipated women's basketball game of the year, both LSU Tigers star Angel Reese and Iowa Hawkeyes star Caitlin Clark are trying to downplay the rematch and their rivalry. 

What happens on the court – when the competitive fire starts burning – is likely to change both of their attitudes, but on Sunday morning neither player was willing to throw any gas on the embers. 

"I don't think people realize it's not personal," Reese said. "I think people just take it like we hate each other. Me and Caitlin Clark don't hate each other. I want everybody to understand that. It's just a super competitive game." 

She added that she turns into a different person on the court. 

"Once I get between those lines, there's no friends," she said. "I have plenty of friends on the court that I talk to outside of the game, but like when I get between those lines, we're not friends. We're not buddies. I'm going to talk trash to you." 

LSU Tigers forward Angel Reese reacts during the 2024 NCAA Tournament at MVP Arena.

(Gregory Fisher/USA TODAY Sports)

Clark also downplayed the trash talk and says that her chatter on the court is about herself and her teammates, not her opponents. 

"My competitive passion is just all about the game and what fires me up and what fires my team up," she said. "I think I play with a lot of emotion, but I think our team is mostly focused on celebrating each other." 

Reese shared that sentiment. 

"[Trash talk] just gets me going. It's where I'm from. I'm from Baltimore, so that's just kind of what we do," she said. "I'm trying to hype myself up and get myself going. It's not personal to the other player on the other team, but it is what it is. You take it how you want." 

LSU head coach Kim Mulkey noted that the outside noise is hyping up the trash talk beyond what it needs to be. 

"You've got two very talented players that have brought a lot of attention to our sport. They both trash talk," Mulkey said. "Those are tough women." 

Iowa Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark gives a "thumbs-up" after beating Colorado to advance to the Elite Eight in the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

(USA Today Sports)

Mulkey did bemoan the fact that these teams are meeting in the Elite Eight, rather than at the Final Four. 

"Didn't that National Championship game have the highest ratings ever in women's basketball? You're probably going to anticipate this one will, too, but it needs to be at the Final Four," she said. "This would be special if it was at the Final Four."

Mulkey is correct, last year's National Championship game between the two schools was the most-watched women's basketball game of all-time. Although this game is happening sooner in this year's NCAA Tournament, on a slightly smaller stage, everyone expects a lot of eyeballs on Monday night. 

"I think women's basketball fans know how special and cool this moment will be," Clark said. "I think the viewership numbers will show that." 

For now, everything is cordial and everyone involved is saying what they need to say. But none of that matters once the ball goes into the air on Monday night. 

After that, all bets are off.