Caitlin Clark: Angel Reese should not be criticized for gestures at title game

Iowa star Caitlin Clark said Tuesday that LSU’s Angel Reese shouldn’t be criticized for the gestures she made toward Clark in the closing moments of Sunday’s national championship game. Here’s what you need to know:

In the final minutes, as eventual winner LSU built a sizable lead over Iowa, Reese made the “you can’t see me” gesture from John Cena to Clark and then pointed her ring finger. Although Clark made a similar taunt earlier in the tournament, Reese’s actions have dominated the postgame discourse. Reese has spoken out about the gesture several times since, saying she was “unapologetically” herself. “So this was for girls who look like me, who are going to speak up for what they believe in,” she said after the game. “You are without forgiveness. That’s what I did tonight. It was bigger than me tonight.” During an appearance on ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” on Tuesday, Clark said she has “nothing but respect” for Reese and that the LSU sophomore “should never be criticized for what she did. I competed, she competed .” What else did Clark say

Clark called Reese — who was named the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player — an “outstanding, outstanding player” during her televised appearance Tuesday. Clark added that the game was “super, super fun” and said she thinks “that’s what’s going to bring more people to our game.”

Clark, the national player of the year, also addressed first lady Jill Biden’s suggestion that Iowa should join LSU at the White House when the Tigers celebrate their victory, saying LSU “should enjoy that moment for them”.

“Maybe I can go to the White House on different terms, though,” she joked. “But this is for LSU. It’s a pretty cool moment and they should enjoy every second of being champions.”

Iowa coach Lisa Bluder also said the visit to the White House should “only go to the champion, LSU and Coach (Kim) Mulkey.”

“We’ll welcome the First Lady and President to Iowa’s ‘Home’ – Carver Hawkeye Arena – anytime!” Bluder tweeted.

This was never Clark vs. Reese

Surprisingly, Clark cared a lot less about Reese’s taunts than a bunch of people posting on the internet. In fact, she doesn’t care at all. Anyone who has questioned Clark about her personality and her trash talking knew that would be her attitude for the whole ordeal. She believes that female athletes should be able to be themselves just like male athletes are. For him and Reese, that means they can and should be the elite trash talkers and great competitors that they really are. Clark gives it, she takes it and is ready to move on. – Auerbach

Required reading

(Photo: Kevin Jairaj / USA Today)