Angel Reese debuts customs sneakers for first WNBA matchup with Caitlin Clark

Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark helped carry an unprecedented quantity of consideration to ladies’s faculty basketball. 

Clark was the primary participant chosen within the 2024 WNBA Draft, whereas the Chicago Sky used the seventh general choose on Reese. The joy surrounding the 2 star gamers has carried over from faculty to the skilled ranks, and Saturday will mark the primary time Reese and Clark sq. off within the WNBA.

Reese is bringing some particular sneakers along with her for the extremely anticipated matchup. The Sky ahead will probably be sporting a customized pair of pink “Barbie” version sneakers throughout Saturday’s recreation.

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The sneakers are a nod to Reese’s nickname, “Bayou Barbie,” which grew in recognition throughout her time at LSU.

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Shortly after she was drafted by the Sky, she mentioned she would additionally go by “Chi Barbie.”

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Reese and Clark went head-to-head within the 2023 NCAA Division I ladies’s basketball nationwide championship recreation. Reese and LSU defeated Clark and Iowa within the matchup. However, the Hawkeyes got here out on high in early April in the course of the Elite Eight.  

However, Reese pointing to her ring finger within the ultimate moments of the 2023 nationwide title recreation turned the lasting picture. Since that second, the perceived rivalry between Reese and Clark has been extensively mentioned.

However, each gamers have acknowledged that they’ve respect for one another’s recreation and the rivalry just isn’t bitter or private.

“Me and Caitlin Clark do not hate one another,” Reese mentioned in April in the course of the NCAA match. “I need everyone to know that. It is only a tremendous aggressive recreation. As soon as I get between these traces, there is no associates. I’ve loads of associates on the courtroom that I speak to outdoors of the sport, however like once I get between these traces, we’re not associates. We’re not buddies. I will speak trash to you. I will do no matter it takes to get in your head the entire total recreation, however after the sport we will kick it.”

In the meantime, Clark complemented Reese for her aggressive spirit saying, “Me and Angel have all the time been nice opponents.”

Clark added that the good expertise and competitors has helped elevate ladies’s basketball.

“The largest factor is ladies’s basketball is in a extremely good spot,” Clark mentioned in March.

Reese is averaging 11 factors and eight.2 rebounds over her first six WNBA video games. She mentioned she is having enjoyable as she continues to work her approach by way of the transition from faculty to the professionals.

“It’s been nice,” Reese instructed ESPN. “Simply having the ability to have an effect on the sport in several methods, understanding the transition and simply giving myself grace and being affected person with every part. I’ve been capable of have enjoyable on the market and develop each recreation.”

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Clark is averaging 17.6 factors and 6.6 assists per recreation, however she scored a career-best 30 factors on Could 28 in a loss to the Los Angeles Sparks.

Tipoff for the nationally televised recreation is about for 12 p.m. ET.

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