Angel Reese on Caitlin Clark - We 'don't hate each other' - ESPN

ALBANY, N.Y. — LSU's Angel Reese said Sunday she has no hard feelings toward Iowa's Caitlin Clark as the two stars prepare for a rematch — this time in the Elite Eight.

Much has been made about the competitive fire and trash talk both players display when they are on the court. But when Reese pointed at her finger and made the John Cena «You can't see me» hand gesture at Clark as LSU closed out its victory over Iowa in the national championship game last year, the discourse surrounding both her trash talk and relationship with Clark intensified.

Reese was once again asked Sunday about talking trash, particularly as it relates to what happened last year.

«I don't think people realize it's not personal,» Reese said. «Once we get out between those lines, if I see you walking down the street, it's like, 'Hey, girl, what's up? Let's hang out.' 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. Once I get between those lines, there's no friends. I'm going to talk trash to you. I'm going to do whatever it takes to get in your head the whole entire game, but after the game, we can kick it. I don't think people really realize that.

»That's fine. I'll take the villain role. I'll take the hit for it, but I know we're growing women's basketball. If this is the way we're going to do it, then this is the way we're going to do it. You either like it or you don't."

Reese described her relationship with Clark as «super-competitive,» noting the two had been playing each other since high school and then again when Reese started her career at Maryland.

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