Megan Rapinoe is fully behind the new generation of leading women in the sports space.
The two-time USWNT World Cup champ has been following the women’s NCAA Tournament, and on Sunday, praised Angel Reese for how the LSU star spoke of her March Madness foe, Caitlin Clark, explaining the two “don’t hate each other” ahead of their Elite Eight matchup Monday night in Albany.
“These kids are lightyears ahead of the narratives,” Rapinoe wrote on the Instagram Story, along with a laughing and angel emoji.
A rivalry seemed to have been born after the two had a fiery battle in the women’s championship game last year that featured Reese giving Clark a ring finger signal, as well as the John Cena “You can’t see me” hand gesture, as LSU fought to earn their first national title.
However, both Reese and Clark claimed there is no “rivalry.”
In the video Rapinoe shared, Reese continued to put that to bed when it comes to any of her opponents, explaining there isn’t any special competitiveness with Clark.
“Me and Caitlin Clark don’t hate each other. I want everybody to understand that. It’s just a super-competitive game,” Reese said. “Once I get between those lines, there’s no friends. I’m going to talk trash to you. I’m going to do whatever it takes to get in your head the whole entire game, but after the game, we can kick it. I don’t think people really realize that.
“That’s fine. I’ll take the villain role. I’ll take the hit for it, but I know we’re growing women’s basketball. If this is the way we’re going to do it, then this is the way we’re going to do it. You either like it or you don’t.”
Reese and Clark will compete on Monday at 7:15 p.m. for a spot in the Final Four.
