CAITLIN Clark has expressed concerns about her plans to team up with WNBA rival Angel Reese for the first time.
The recruits are tops WNBA team roster who will face the United States Women’s Olympic Team in the 2024 All-Star Game.
4
4
4
Clark topped the fan voting charts, receiving 700,735 votes.
In the meantime, Reese garnered 381,518 votes, placing him seventh in the league.
Clark and Reese Their high-level rivalry began in collegewhile the couple were at Iowa and LSU, respectively.
And it continued into the professional ranks with Reese recently hitting Clark with a blow to the head during a game between the Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky.
Clark has mixed feelings about his upcoming partnership with Reese.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been a teammate of his before, even with USA Basketball or anything like that,” she said Tuesday.
“I know people will be very excited about it, but I hope it doesn’t spoil anything for everyone.
“It’s a huge accomplishment for everyone on Team USA and everyone on Team WNBA. They all deserve equal praise.
“I don’t want it to ruin anything and make it the focal point of All-Star weekend because it’s not fair to them.”
Clark is, however, most excited to be playing in her first WNBA All-Star Game, which will be held in Phoenix on July 20.
“Obviously it’s a really difficult thing to accomplish, so whatever we can do to celebrate them all will be great,” she added.
“And I’m obviously going to enjoy the experience because, like, you never know if we’ll ever get to go back and it’ll be fun for all of us.”
Reese, for his part, has already expressed his desire to share the court with Clark while wearing the same jersey.
“Oh my God, I love Caitlin,” Reese said ahead of the 2023-24 NCAA season.
“We’ve been competing since we were in AAU. Back in AAU, we were always competing.
“I remember she was on the All Iowa Attack, and we would play against each other in AAU. It was always fun and always competitive.
“One day, I hope, she and I can be teammates because she’s a great player, a great shooter, a great person and a great teammate.”
Last month, Clark attempted to calm her feud with Reese after they got into a fight during a WNBA game.
THE Fever The rookie was driving toward the basket when fellow rookie Reese, 22, tried to make a play.
She ended up hitting Clark in the forehead and sending him falling to the ground.
4
Reese was assessed a flagrant foul on the play.
And both stars were asked about the incident during their post-match press conferences.
“It’s a basketball play,” Reese said.
“I can’t control the referees. They obviously influenced the game a lot tonight.
“I’m always running after the ball.
“You’re going to air this clip, what, 20 times before Monday?”
Clark agreed with her rival on the play and chose not to escalate the war of words.
She said: “She’s trying to play with the ball and get the block. It happens.”
“What’s going on in my head? I have to make these two free throws.
“That’s all I think about. It’s just part of basketball. That’s just the way it is.”
WNBA All-Star Player Lists
The 2024 WNBA All-Star Game rosters have been announced, with Team WNBA set to face Team USA on July 20.
WNBA Team:
- DeWanna Bonner – Connecticut Sun
- Aliyah Boston – Indiana Fever
- Caitlin Clark – Indiana Fever
- Allisha Gray – Atlanta Dream
- Dearica Hamby – Los Angeles Sparks
- Brionna Jones – Connecticut Sun
- Jonquel Jones – New York Liberty
- Kayla McBride – Minnesota Lynx
- Kelsey Mitchell – Indiana Fever
- Arike Ogunbowale – Dallas Wings
- Nneka Ogwumike – Seattle Storm
- Angel Reese – Chicago Sky
Team USA:
- Napheesa Necklace – Minnesota Lynx
- Kahleah Copper – Phoenix Mercury
- Chelsea Gray – Las Vegas Ace
- Brittney Griner – Phoenix Mercury
- Sabrina Ionescu – New York Liberty
- Jewell Loyd – Seattle Storm
- Kelsey Plum – The Aces of Las Vegas
- Breanna Stewart – New York Liberty
- Diana Taurasi – The Mercury of the Phoenix
- Alyssa Thomas – Connecticut Sun
- A’ja Wilson – The Aces of Las Vegas
- Jackie Young – Aces of Las Vegas
