By Wonderwall.com Editors
6:00pm PDT, Apr 8, 2024
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NCAA women's basketball stars Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese capped off their long-running on-court rivalry with a hug and words of encouragement.
The moment came on April 1 after Clark led her Iowa Hawkyes to a 94-87 win over Angel and the LSU Tigers in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament in Albany, New York. The game had been widely hailed as a rematch of Clark and Reese's unforgettable national championship battle in 2023, which LSU won 102-85. This time around, it was Iowa's year — and Clark's game. The Iowa native — who recently broke Steph Curry's record for the most 3-point shots ever made by a player of any gender in a single Division I game — scored 41 points (including nine 3-pointers) and made 12 assists.
In the handshake line after the game, Clark and Reese opted to forgo the usual shake or high-five option in favor of what appeared to be an emotional hug and a few shared words.
"She just told me, 'Continue to be a great player,'" Reese said in a press conference after the game, NBC and ESPN reported. "And I told her, 'Continue to be a great player, as well, and keep elevating the game and go win it,'" added Reese, who also had an incredible game with 17 points, 20 rebounds and four assists.
Reese faced harsh criticism and online abuse last year over moments during the Women's Championship game against Iowa when she put her hand in front of her face while staring down Clark — the so-called "you can't see me" gesture — and pointed at her ring-finger, implying LSU would win the title. Clark, who made the same "you can't see me" gesture in a previous game, has repeatedly defended Reese against detractors. The two have also said in multiple interviews that there's no off-court tension between them, though they've often found themselves pitted against one another by fans and the media.
Clark had already declared for the 2024 WNBA draft, making the Elite Eight game the pair's last face-off as college players. Reese ended her season with the option to return to LSU for a final year or declare for the draft as well — which she did on April 3 in a glamorous photo shoot and interview with Vogue. Reese revealed that she'd made her decision to turn pro before March Madness began but wanted to wait to announce to make it memorable. "Of course, I like to do everything big," Reese told the mag. "I didn't want anything to be basic."
Join us as we take a look at the best photos of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese from their epic final college showdown…
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Caitlin Clark, #22 of the Iowa Hawkeyes, shot a 3-point basket in front of Angel Reese, #10 of the LSU Tigers, during the second half in the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at MVP Arena in Albany, New York, on April 1, 2024.
"I don't think people realize it's not personal," Reese told reporters the day before the game. "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."
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Caitlin Clark, #22 of the Iowa Hawkeyes, shot the ball during the first half of her showdown against the LSU Tigers during the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at MVP Arena in Albany, New York, on April 1, 2024.
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Angel Reese, #10 of the LSU Tigers, shot the ball as Caitlin Clark, #20 of the Iowa Hawkeyes, supported a block attempt by her teammate in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at MVP Arena in Albany, New York, on April 1, 2024.
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Angel Reese, #10 of the LSU Tigers, prepared to pass in the first half of the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at MVP Arena in Albany, New York, on April 1, 2024.
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Angel Reese, #10 of the LSU Tigers, shot the ball against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the first half of the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at MVP Arena in Albany, New York, on April 1, 2024.
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Caitlin Clark, #22 of the Iowa Hawkeyes, reacted as Angel Reese, #10 of the LSU Tigers, looked on during the second half of the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at MVP Arena in Albany, New York, on April 1, 2024.
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Caitlin Clark, #22 of the Iowa Hawkeyes, shot the ball in front of LSU Tigers teammates Flau'jae Johnson #4 and Angel Reese #10 during the second half the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at MVP Arena in Albany, New York, on April 1, 2024.
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Caitlin Clark of the Iowa Hawkeyes celebrated after beating the LSU Tigers 94-87 in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at MVP Arena in Albany, New York, on April 1, 2024.
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Iowa Hawkeyes star point guard Caitlin Clark celebrated after beating the LSU Tigers 94-87 in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at MVP Arena in Albany, New York, on April 1, 2024.
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Flau'jae Johnson #4, and Angel Reese #10 of the LSU Tigers speak to press after losing to the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at MVP Arena in Albany, New York, on April 1, 2024.
"I've been attacked so many times — [received] death threats. I've been sexualized. I've been threatened. I've been [through] so many things, and I've stood strong every single time," Reese told reporters, citing the threats, attacks and abuse she's endured since the 2023 championship game.
"I just try to stand strong for my teammates because I don't want them to see me down and not be there for them," she continued.
"I'm still a human," she added. "All this has happened since I won the National Championship and I said the other day I haven't been happy since then. And it sucks, but I still wouldn't change anything. I would still sit here and say I'm unapologetically me. I'm gonna always leave that mark and be who I am and stand on that."
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Angel Reese of the LSU Tigers blocks a shot from AJ Ediger of the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first half in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at MVP Arena in Albany, New York, on April 1, 2024.
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Caitlin Clark, #22 of the Iowa Hawkeyes, shoots the ball over Mikaylah Williams, #12 of the LSU Tigers, during the first half in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at MVP Arena in Albany, New York, on April 1, 2024.
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Caitlin Clark, #22 of the Iowa Hawkeyes, cuts down the net after beating the LSU Tigers 94-87 in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at MVP Arena in Albany, New York, on April 1, 2024.
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Angel Reese, #10 of the LSU Tigers, reacts during the first half against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at MVP Arena in Albany, New York, on April 1, 2024.
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Angel Reese, #10 of the LSU Tigers, looks to shoot around Hannah Stuelke, #45 of the Iowa Hawkeyes, during the first half in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at MVP Arena in Albany, New York, on April 1, 2024.
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Angel Reese, #10 of the LSU Tigers, looks on during the first half against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at MVP Arena in Albany, New York, on April 1, 2024.
