Within the past 48 hours, the following has been said about Angel or Caitlin: Classless, Idiot, Lame,etc. After Angel taunted Caitlin with the “Jon Cena” gesture. We have all seen it hundreds of times now so this blog won’t be about that. My only wish is that Angel would have taken those 10 seconds to at least give a handshake or hug to Caitlin. Good Sportmanship is a choice sometimes that can easily define your legacy regardless of the heat of the moment. Had Angel not chosen to follow Caitlin on the court, we wouldn’t be talking about it. But when you think about it, when was the last time a Women’s National Collegiate Championship game had this much buzz post the final buzzer. Your normal 24 hour congrats, highlights shown and we move on to the next thing.
From the time the final buzzer sounded, this situation between two star athletes in their own right became the topic of discussion which is still on-going. I began to think about it and also engage in it. I love the game but from jump the refs ruined what could have been a legendary game when Reese, Clark, & Graduate player Czinano all picked up multiple, questionable fouls which changed the trajectory of the game moving forward.
With Reese & Clark on the bench early in the game other players from both teams had to step up. And step up they did. Carson & Morris from LSU who both struggled all tournament lit up the score board hitting any and everything. They were able to stretch their lead by half time to 17. Warnock and Martin also contributed for Iowa but again questionable foul calls hindered their run game. Iowa was playing catch up all game. Clark ended the game becoming the woman with most points in the ncaa tournament passing the legend Sheryl Swoopes!! 🙂 so Awesome and should be talked about and celebrated but it’s not. I’m taking this moment to uplift Caitlin. She balled out all tournament. You can celebrate that, it was awesome to see her shoot from Steph range as she racked up a 40 point triple double not only that she repeated her 40 point performance in the semi-final and 30 point performance in the final game although coming up short. Her performance not only put Iowa as a University in the spotlight but also more eyes on the Women’s game.
Angel Reese, a transfer from Maryland is no stranger to the NCAA Tournament. Dominant in her own right nicknaming herself ” Bayou Barbie” She is confident in who she is while representing the DMV area. I love rooting for and watching players that are close to my area where I live. Transferring to LSU after an injury and losing to stanford in the Sweet 16, Reese was looking for a fresh start, a shot at a national championship and an opportunity to solidify herself as one of the greats. By taunting Clark the way she did, did she cost herself the opportunity to be celebrated for having the most double doubles in a season with 34 for LSU , the most NIL deals for any male or female collegiate athlete, as well many accolades that include but are not limited too: AP Third Team All American, USBWA All-American, Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Semifinalist all for 2022. For this year she was named the NCAA Outstanding Player. It is to note she was not eligible for the John Wooden award due to not meeting all of the awards criteria. Maybe that is a reason she mentioned being disrespected or feeling as if she has to be outspoken about who she is and not changing who she is. It would make sense since Caitlin was the most talked about female athlete all tournament long outside of South Carolina being undefeated all season on the cusp of potentially repeating as National Champs. LSU honestly was an after thought until they started winning. A lot of their games were close ones too throughout the tourney.
For what it’s worth March Madness always gives what it is supposed too. Heartstopping, Fist Pumping, Edge of your seat fun. I live for it every year. The women’s tournament this year was the most engaging thanks to Clark, Reese and a host of others.
I’m really glad the women’s game is in the spot light right now for programs you normally wouldn’t expect to pull off the upsets and do. We always expect the UCONN’s, Stanford’s, UCLA’s, Tennessee’s to be the champs. It feels good to see programs like LSU & Iowa receive recognition and spotlight. This tournament gave us that. Two Universities with two star players dominating and leaving their mark.
Now to the question at hand is trash talk good? Warranted? Horrible to the game. NO, It makes the game engaging and more fun to watch. I can’t tell you how many conversations I have had or even heard about how many people don’t engage in the women’s game due to pace or boring feel or it’s not the same intensity as the men. Within the last 5 years or so the women’s game has evolved and changed and honestly for good! Trash talk is fine as long good sportsmanship follows. At the end of the day these student athletes are in school working hard in degree fields that are difficult at times as well as dedicating their time to the game. That should be praised most. I’ m proud of both Angel & Caitlin. They both represented their school with grace. Should the way Angel taunted Caitlin be this blown up ,after giving it some deep thought nah. In hindsight, Angel opened up the discussion for the women’s game and how they should be treated like the men. We don’t get in an uproar when Men athletes trash talk. lol so why not give the same grace for some banter between two star athletes. But again I prefer good sportsmanship over everything especially since in this NIL era how you represent yourself on a national stage is criticized. My only advice on a national stage as a young student- athlete protect your brand and uphold it with grace, humility, and respect. You are representing yourself and your university more than anything. How you respond on a national stage can definitely have an impact going forward. Instead of praising the contributions of the entire LSU Tiger team and their first national championship in school history we are only discussing 1 player. And please believe if Clark retaliated it would be a different conversation altogether again taking away from all of the hard- work and sacrifice to get to this point. Am I reading too much into this situation, nah I just have seen time and time again how one decision can hinder or change how one’s career can go.
I’m rooting for Angel.
I’m rooting for Caitlin.
I hope one day they can shake hands and hug since LSU didn’t give them handshakes after the game which was also not cool. Yes I said it! Good Sportsmanship goes a long way especially in the thick of the game.
Reese. Clark. Both now household names, with long careers ahead of them. I look forward to seeing them in the future.
Both Changing the Women’s game for good!
