Michelle Obama has recently weighed in on the WNBA rivalry between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, shedding new light on the situation.
During her appearance on the podcast “All Smoke with Matt Burns and Stephen Jackson,” she discussed how the ongoing drama between Clark and Reese might affect the league’s popularity, the players’ experiences, and even the atmosphere of “hatred” that can arise.
“I think the tough stuff is a part of social media, and that’s definitely true. We touched on it during the show; it affects real-life events—like what these kids have to endure. Social media is such a huge part of their world,” Obama remarked.
“There’s anger, and it’s right there in your room and on your phone all the time. It’s hard to just switch it off, especially since so many kids depend on it for their livelihoods,” she added.
The rivalry heated up again on May 17, 2025, when Clark’s Indiana Fever outplayed Reese’s Chicago Sky, winning 93-58. It was noted that Clark was penalized for a serious foul during a defensive move against Reese.
The WNBA has since launched an investigation into allegedly racist comments aimed at Reese following that game, though they have yet to substantiate the claims.
Since that May 17 matchup, both players have not been on the court together due to injuries impacting their seasons.
In another recent commentary, Obama stirred some conversation by likening ESPN programming to reality TV during a segment on her brother’s podcast, IMO. She stated, “It’s essentially sociological research. People see sports as better reality television. To me, it’s the same. Tune into ESPN for an hour—it feels like an episode of ‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta.’”
Her point? “The drama’s there, the shouting, the tensions—all of it—it’s all very similar, don’t you think?”
