Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese has taken notice of Caitlin Clark's fans on social media. On Thursday, the former LSU star posted the first episode of her new podcast " Unapologetically Angel. "
She was eager to set the record straight on how she thinks about Clark. She heaped praise on her fellow WNBA rookie - but had less kind words for her fans.
“Caitlin Clark is an amazing player," Reese said. "I’ve always thought she was an amazing player. We’ve been playing each other since high school."
Clark is averaging 18.9 points, a league-leading 8.4 assists, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game through 24 contests with the Indiana Fever. She became the first rookie in WNBA History to win a WNBA Conference Player of the Month award when she captured the league's Eastern Conference honor in August.
Clark's strong play helped the Fever snap an eight-year playoff drought dating back to 2016, the longest in the WNBA. Indiana currently sits sixth in the league standings.
Reese's grievances have nothing to do with Clark as a player or a person. "I think it’s really just the fans," Reese continued. "Her fans, the Iowa fans, now the Indiana fans...they ride for her and I respect that."
"Sometimes [the fan interactions] are very disrespectful. I think there’s a lot of racism when it comes to it. I don’t believe [Clark] stands on any of that, but when it comes to death threats, I’m talking about that people have come down to my address."
Reese has unfairly been targeted on social media throughout the season. She's been lumped into relentless debates and comparisons alongside Clark, which would be an uphill battle for anyone to navigate.
She's had an amazing rookie season in her own right, averaging 13.3 points and 13.2 rebounds. She set the WNBA record for the most rebounds in a single season.
Reese is confused about why she's expected to even be in the WNBA Rookie of the Year race: “The pressure is not even on me because I’m drafted seven, so the pressure shouldn’t be up there." Clark was the first pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft.
READ MORE: Charles Barkley pinpoints exact moment Caitlin Clark won Rookie of the Year honor
READ MORE: Angel Reese taught priceless WNBA lesson as Chicago Sky's tumble continues
Reese also discusses further infringements on her privacy: "[On] multiple occasions people have made AI pictures of me like naked. They have sent it to my family members."
"My family members, like my uncles, send it to me like 'are you naked on instagram?' It sucks to see that and it’s really hard that I have to go through that and now seeing other players even having to go through that."
Reese will hope to help the slumping Sky, currently on an eight-game losing streak, stay afloat in the playoff picture. Chicago is currently tied with the Atlanta Dream for the eighth and final spot in the WNBA playoffs.
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