Shakira Austin, the center for the Washington Mystics, has addressed the detrimental impact of the feud between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese on fellow WNBA players. Clark is currently a player for the Indiana Fever, while Reese plays as a guard for the Chicago Sky. Both athletes starred during their freshman year in the WNBA last season, with their rivalry initially igniting during their college days—Clark at Iowa and Reese at LSU.
“We’re always going to feel like we have to deal with ignorant people,” Austin remarked to Us Weekly. “Unfortunately, as women, we often end up on the receiving end of that. We just keep pushing forward, seeking out real communities and supportive individuals. In a way, we have to learn to disregard those trolls.”
Austin, selected as the third overall pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft, noted that the negative talk surrounding the sport has intensified.
“The situation has definitely worsened over the past year. With everything involving Caitlin and Angel, it’s become quite severe,” she stated.
Discussions about the WNBA in the last year have prominently featured Reese and Clark. However, many analyses of their rivalry have suggested a disparity in media coverage of the two players. Fans have raised concerns about racial bias favoring Clark, particularly due to Reese’s Black heritage compared to Clark’s white background. Austin shared that even parents of players are eager to defend them against unfair online critiques.
“It’s exhausting seeing the same frustrating comments,” Austin acknowledged. “I often receive calls from my Dad, and he’s like, ‘I really want to confront that troll.’ I keep telling him, ‘Dad, just let it go.’”
Austin concluded, “Honestly, with the growth of the sport, we are unfortunately facing an even bigger battle for acceptance and understanding.”
Angel Reese Discusses Caitlin Clark Rivalry
Last year, Reese weighed in on her rivalry with Clark during an interview with Complex’s Speedy Morman.
“I believe it’s purely competition; it’s been competitive since our college years,” Reese reflected. “Competing against Caitlin has been a longstanding rivalry, dating back to when we were in eighth or ninth grade. We were both very competitive in AAU basketball. I went to Maryland, and she went to Iowa, where we faced off again, and ultimately meeting in the national championship shows our history of competition.”
Although the discussions surrounding their rivalry can have adverse effects, the Chicago Sky rookie sees a larger purpose—fostering the growth of women’s basketball.
“Certainly, social media tends to pit two women against each other,” Reese noted. “While this has its negative aspects, it can also be beneficial because it raises awareness of women’s basketball. I’m happy to take on the negativity if doing so contributes to the growth of the sport.”
Image Source: Shakira Austin @ Instagram
