Michelle Obama weighs in on Caitlin Clark-Angel Reese rivalry after WNBA racism investigation
By DANIEL MATTHEWS,
Former First Lady Michelle Obama has given her verdict on Caitlin Clark's rivalry with Angel Reese and the 'hate' that follows two of the WNBA's biggest stars.
Clark and Reese have helped catapult women's basketball to new heights - both during their college days and since they joined the WNBA.
The last time they faced off, in the Fever-Sky clash on Week 1 of this season, the rivalry between Clark and Reese ratcheted up another notch.
The Indiana star knocked Reese to the ground, prompting a furious reaction from the Chicago forward. Following the game, the WNBA launched an investigation into alleged 'racist' comments directed at Reese.
This week, Obama discussed the rivalry during an appearance on the 'All the Smoke' podcast with Matt Barnes and Stephen Clark.
'I think the tough thing is the social media element to it - but that’s true across the board,' the former First Lady said.
Ex-First Lady Michelle Obama has given her verdict on Caitlin Clark's rivalry with Angel Reese
Back in May, Clark knocked Reese to the ground, prompting a furious reaction from her rival
'These young kids today, what they have to go through, what they have to be able to withstand, because social media is such a huge part of the world.'
Obama, who recently compared ESPN and Stephen A. Smith to 'Real Housewives of Atlanta,' added that athletes today now can't escape 'the hate' that is bred by a rivalry such as this.
'Now the hate is in your room, on your phone, with you all the time. And you can’t, for whatever reason, tell these kids to turn it off, because they’re making their living that way.
'Now they are expected to stay engaged. So, I think that makes it feel even worse. But I think, as you point out, that’s happening in sports across gender. It’s just harder not to withstand other people’s horrible, horrible opinions.'
Clark and the Fever beat Reese’s Sky 93-58 in the season opener, with Clark called for a flagrant foul for her part in their confrontation. Ten days after the game, the WNBA announced it could not 'substantiate' reports of 'racist fan behavior' at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
'Based on information gathered to date, including from relevant fans, team and arena staff, as well as audio and video review of the game, we have not substantiated it,' the league said in a statement.
Clark and Reese have not faced off since that May 17 game, with both battling injuries in recent months.
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