It was a memorable finish to the women’s basketball national championship game Sunday, even if the score appeared one-sided. LSU defeated Iowa 102-85, and, in the game’s final moments, Tigers star forward Angel Reese was seen mocking Iowa star guard Caitlin Clark on several occasions.
With the game all but over, Reese was seen giving Clark the “you can’t see me” gesture created by wrestler John Cena—a taunt Clark has used during the tournament, one Cena even acknowledged. Afterwards, she appeared to point at her ring finger several times while staring down Clark. The Hawkeyes guard did’t appear to acknowledge either gesture.
After the game, Clark said she didn’t see Reese taunt her because she was too focused on going to the handshake line and being grateful for being in that moment.
ANGEL REESE TO CAITLIN CLARK 😳 pic.twitter.com/2NY0CEzwJ3
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 2, 2023
Angel Reese taunts Caitlin Clark shows her ring finger pic.twitter.com/bQn38qdkqE
— Gifdsports (@gifdsports) April 2, 2023
As a result, Reese faced some criticism online and the words “no class” and “classless” began trending while a large portion of the sports world defended Reese from criticism. Here are some reactions to Reese’s taunts:
Don’t get mad at Angel Reese doing this now if you loved it when Caitlin Clark did it. pic.twitter.com/MzdixORoQT
— Colb (@___Colb___) April 2, 2023
Caitlin Clark talks a lot of trash and didn't care that Angel Reese dished it back to her.
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) April 2, 2023
This isn't a Thing. You don't need to pretend it's a Thing. It's all fine!
Super ugly sportsmanship by Angel Reese towards Caitlin Clark considering how terrible the refs were on Iowa’s gameplay.. hated to see it pic.twitter.com/ZzLTSy2Cfv
— toast (@bigashlol) April 2, 2023
How Angel Reese is being vilified by many highlights exactly what @dawnstaley was talking about.
— Jalen Rose (@JalenRose) April 2, 2023
If you didn’t say it was classless when Caitlin Clark did it to her opponents then don’t say it about Angel Reese either. https://t.co/5S8P6mvhhx
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) April 2, 2023
Angel Reese following Caitlin Clark around the floor waving her hand in front of her face as she tries to go back to her bench shows just how much class she has. Zero
— Jim Hartnett (@Jimmyhartnett4) April 2, 2023
LSU has zero sportsmanship and it starts with Kim Mulkey
Angel Reese talks trash. Caitlin Clark talks trash. Hailey Van Lith talks trash. Women talk trash in sports, just like men do.
— Tyler Greever (@Tyler_Greever) April 2, 2023
And yet, some treat women differently when they do it. Stop with all this criticism about "class." Let players compete and show intensity.
I’m not gonna retweet the garbage on my timeline but I’m going to be VERY CLEAR:
— Annie Costabile (@AnnieCostabile) April 2, 2023
Caitlin Clark’s trash talk has been celebrated all tourney long. Angel Reese’s trash talk is equally as exciting. Honestly, she did it better. That’s exactly the energy the game needs. MORE PLEASE.
