The 2023 Women’s NCAA Tournament was filled with excitement and watched by millions. LSU won the championship over Iowa 102-85, but the most talked about part of the game didn’t happen during game play. In the final moments of the game, LSU star Angel Reese began her celebrations by following Iowa star Caitlin Clark and taunting her with the popular “you can’t see me” gesture along with a stare down of Clark while pointing at her ring finger.
The internet immediately blew up – first with people calling Reese’s actions “classless” and “trashy”. But that reaction caused another reaction – of people saying it was hypocrisy (with many saying the hypocrisy was because of race) because Caitlin Clark had done the same gesture during a game with Louisville earlier in the tournament.
There is no doubt that double standards exist all day long when it comes to situations like this. And this shouldn’t have caused so many people to spend so much energy on the topic (consider us guilty!). But in our opinion, these were very different. Let’s break it down.
The Two Actions Weren’t the Same
Caitlin Clark vs. Louisville Taunt:
Gesture: You Can’t See Me
Length of Gesture: Under 1 Second
Who was she doing it to? Possibly towards Louisville players, but it seemed like she was doing it towards her own bench after a big moment in the game.
Angel Reese Taunt vs. Iowa
Gesture: You Can’t See Me / Ring Finger Pointing
Length of Gesture: About 15 Seconds
Who was she doing it to? Caitlin Clark – who she actively approached and then followed in order to taunt.
But What Did Caitlin Clark Think?
As everyone got way too worked up over things, perhaps more people should have asked – what did Caitlin Clark think? (and for the record, Clark herself is no doubt a trash talker who doesn’t always show great sportsmanship- see below.)
Clark didn’t seem to be too bothered by it – in the moment she ignored it entirely and she later said:
“I don’t think Angel should be criticized at all,” Clark said. “No matter which way it goes, she should never be criticized for what she did. I’m just one that competes, and she competed. I think everybody knew there was going to be a little trash talk. It’s not just me and Angel. I don’t think she should be criticized, like I said. LSU deserves it. They played so well. Like I said, I’m a big fan of hers.”
Final Opinion:
Are they both great players? Yes
Did they both do the same thing? Not at all
Is there sometimes hypocrisy in situations like this? Absolutely
Was this an example of it? Not really. (Though there is no doubt some people got more worked up about Reese than they would have had Clark done the exact same thing.)
Do we wish basketball players at all levels did less trash talking and taunting? Yes
Does any of this matter? No