Caitlin Clark is a baller.
Caitlin Clark also appears not to be a Karen.
I told people that Clark didn’t have an issue with being mocked and taunted because she knew the rule of ball. If you can dish it, you have to be able to take it. All this arguing on social media was much ado about nothing. It is sad Clark even had to make a statement, but here is what she said.
“I don’t think Angel should be criticized at all. No matter what way it goes, she should never be criticized for what she did. I compete, she competed.
“It was a super, super fun game. I think that’s what’s going to bring more people to our game”
"I don't think Angel should be criticized at all."
Caitlin Clark said she thought Angel Reese received too much backlash for her celebrations during the championship game. (via @OTLonESPN) pic.twitter.com/i8tZyO8bai
— ESPN (@espn) April 4, 2023
Meanwhile, Charles Barkley was just upset this had taken over the game’s narrative.
The taunting feud between LSU forward Angel Reese and Iowa guard Caitlin Clark was the talk of the town following the women’s national championship game, which saw the Tigers earn the school’s first-ever — in both men’s and women’s — basketball title.
It was also a matchup that recorded the most-ever viewers for an NCAA women’s basketball game on ESPN. The game garnered 9.9 million watchers, peaking at 12.6 million, per ESPN. It was the most-viewed college event ever on ESPN+.
Still, Charles Barkley said it was “unfortunate” that such a historic game and lively event was overshadowed by the taunts.
“Well, I thought it took away from the game,” Barkley said. “In fairness, Caitlin did that in the game before. I thought it took too much attention away from a great performance.”
In the end, the tournament helped Clark (who I admit is now one of my favorite players in any sport), the Baybou Barbie Reese is about to clean up in the NIL department, and women’s basketball as a whole will be better for the rivalry.