An intense battle on the court ended with kind words as Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese faced each other for the final time in college.
Both Reese and Clark are expected to enter the WNBA Draft this summer – with Clark already declaring and believed to be the top pick.
But they faced each other one last time with their respective schools – Clark with Iowa and Reese with LSU.
Reese put up an impressive 17 points and 20 rebounds, but Clark’s 41 points and 12 assists were enough to give the Hawkeyes a 94-87 win.
The two shared a kind moment with each other in the handshake line and Reese revealed what they said to each other.
Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese embraced in the handshake line at Monday’s Elite Eight game
Reese put up a strong performance of 17 points and 20 rebounds in the rematch of the schools
But Clark went off for 41 points and Iowa got revenge over LSU and head to the Final Four
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‘She just told me, ‘Continue to be a great player,” Reese said in a postgame press conference.
‘And I told her, ‘Continue to be a great player, as well, and keep elevating the game and go win it.”
Reese and Clark have seemingly had a rivalry ever since LSU won last year’s national championship game.
The LSU post presence talked her talk, waving her hand in front of her face and pointing to her ring finger – all gestures intended for Clark.
While Reese was criticized for her actions, her Iowa counterpart defended her display of emotions.
‘I don’t think people realize it’s not personal,’ Reese said in Albany, New York on Sunday. ‘Once we get out between those lines, if I see you walking down the street, it’s like, “Hey, girl, what’s up? Let’s hang out.” I think people just take it like 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. Once I get between those lines, there’s no friends. I’m going to talk trash to you. I’m going to do whatever it takes to get in your head the whole entire game, but after the game, we can kick it. I don’t think people really realize that.’
