Earlier this month, when discussing the fame and notoriety surrounding Iowa State basketball star Caitlin Clark, she said: USA Today Author Lindsey Schnell wrote, “The future of women’s basketball needs black people.”
LSU star Angel Reese, who is Black, sees it differently.
In this game, which followed the University of Iowa’s 94-87 win over LSU, Clark exploded for 41 points and made nine 3-pointers, the most in women’s history. Reese and Clark, two different faces from the world of women’s college basketball, trembled when they met. Holding hands, showing a sign of mutual respect.
Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese show respect to each other after the match
📽️: @espn pic.twitter.com/cPWTBJUhf5
— DraftKings Sportsbook (@DKSportsbook) April 2, 2024
After the game, Reese explained to reporters what he told Clark.
“She told me, ‘I’m going to continue to be a great player,'” Reese said. Said At the post-match press conference. “And I told her, ‘She’s just going to continue to be a great player and continue to improve her game and go win.'”
There’s a lot of respect between Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark. A fierce competitor. They made the game better. pic.twitter.com/zpgYGytzMk
— Dr. Lindsey Darvin (@DrLindseyDarvin) April 2, 2024
“Keep evolving your game.” Reese’s words not only acknowledged Clark for improving her game and becoming the face of women’s basketball in her own right, but also as the “face” of women’s basketball going into the WNBA. It was also an acknowledgment of Clark.
Most importantly, her words show that she doesn’t care one bit about Caitlin Clark’s skin color. This will not sit well with Lindsay Schnell and her ilk.
Schnell was adamant that the future of women’s basketball should be similar to its past. Schnell also made sure to point out that her basic face in the past was black and her desired face in the future should be black as well.
How disturbing is it for Schnell that the “face” who wants to lead women’s basketball doesn’t care about the color of the face that leads women’s basketball?
