Stephen A. Smith Brings Angel Reese Into Caitlin Clark Scuffle Drama

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Rowan Fisher-Shotton | Last updated Jun 18, 2025 2:06 PM ET

Temperatures boiled over in Tuesday’s Commissioner’s Cup matchup between the Indiana Fever and the Connecticut Sun, setting the stage for heated discourse Wednesday on ESPN’s "First Take."

The Fever, led by guard Caitlin Clark’s 20-point performance and Natasha Howard’s 16-point, 12-rebound double‑double, secured an 88‑71 victory at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

However, the game’s physical flashpoints, including Clark being poked in the eye by Sun guard Jacy Sheldon and subsequently shoved to the floor by Connecticut's Marina Mabrey, sparked a flurry of technical fouls and ejections.

On "First Take," Stephen A. Smith asserted that Clark not only draws resentment as the "golden goose" of the women’s game but also sometimes "instigates" it herself.

"There's also resentment towards her because she instigates resentment towards her... The whole Angel Reese thing with her started because when Caitlin [Clark] was giving it to everybody else, she was the one waving her in their face."

—Stephen A. Smithpic.twitter.com/ufQ3gike3j
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) June 18, 2025

Smith cited the well‑documented college feud with Angel Reese, when Clark’s on‑court taunting triggered Reese’s now‑infamous "You Can't See Me" reply.

Smith argued, "Oh, Caitlin can clap at you now. Caitlin can antagonize you now. ... When Angel Reese and LSU got a hold of her, Angel Reese was like, 'Yeah, it’s your turn.' That’s where it came from. It was instigated by Caitlin Clark."

Smith added that similar shoves, elbows and trash talk have followed Clark into her WNBA career.

Clark left Iowa as the NCAA Division I all‑time leading scorer (men’s or women’s), racking up 3,951 career points and surpassing Pete Maravich’s 3,667 points.

A two‑time national player of the year and unanimous All‑American, Clark rewrote numerous scoring and viewership records, earning her reputation as one of the greatest women’s college basketball players ever.

Reese, meanwhile, emerged as Clark’s most visible collegiate foe during LSU’s 2023 national championship run.

Transferring to LSU for her junior season, Reese led the Tigers to their first NCAA title and was named the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player.

She set the NCAA single‑season records for double‑doubles and SEC single‑season rebounding, earning unanimous All‑American and SEC Player of the Year honors.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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