Nothing but respect between LSU forward Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark ahead of Elite Eight matchup

When asked about her relationship with the talented Iowa senior guard, Reese took some time to explain what trash talk means to her, particularly when it comes against another elite player on the basketball court.

“I don’t think people realize it’s not personal,” the star senior forward said while speaking with the media on Sunday. “Once we get out of between those lines – if I see you walking down the street, it’s, ‘Hey girl, what’s up? Let’s hang out.’ I think people just take it as we hate each other. Me and Caitlin Clark don’t hate each other. I want everybody to understand that. It’s just a super competitive game, and I just wish people would realize once I get between those lines, it’s no friends.”

Nothing but respect and high-level competition

Notably, Iowa’s Caitlin Clark echoed a similar sentiment not long after, explaining that it all just has to do with competitiveness, but doesn’t change the respect they have for each other.

“Me and Angel (Reese) have always been great competitors. Obviously, she played in the Big Ten for a while to begin her career, and that’s what makes women’s basketball so fun, is you have great competition and that’s what we’ve had all year long.

“I think Angel would say the same, it’s not just us in women’s basketball,” Clark said regarding the sport of women’s college basketball as a whole. “That’s not the only competitive thing about where our game is at and that’s what makes it so good. We need multiple people to be really good. And I think both of our careers, whether she decides to stay or to go, we’ll have great careers in the WNBA, and that’s been both of our dreams all along, so I think we’re both excited for that as well.”

Interestingly enough, this evening’s matchup marks the fifth time the two players will meet on the hardwood, and with both working towards an eventual career in the WNBA, it’s unlikely to be the last. Furthermore, in the four times the pair have met up, Angel Reese has never lost to Iowa, having beaten the Hawkeyes three times while a part of the Maryland program and once last season with LSU.

Regardless of what the eventual outcome turns out to be, there’s little doubt that this evening’s matchup has the potential to be an all-time classic. Last season, LSU women’s basketball vs. Iowa put up record numbers from a viewership standpoint. This year, it’s a battle for a trip to the Final Four and there’s little doubt both teams will be giving everything they have to keep on dancing.

You’ll be able to watch the game live on ESPN this evening starting at 6:00 p.m. CST, which will then be followed up by a battle between No. 3 UConn (32-5) and No. 1 USC (29-5).