Cowboys legend Dez Bryant and Robert Griffin III got into a heated debate on social media after the former NFL quarterback accused Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese of hating Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark. The comment came after a recent flagrant foul involving the two rising WNBA stars.
Griffin posted on X, “After watching Caitlin Clark’s flagrant foul on Angel Reese and the aftermath, there is no way Angel Reese can continue the lie that she doesn’t dislike Caitlin Clark. I know what hatred looks like. Angel Reese HATES Caitlin Clark. Not some basketball rivalry hate either. Hate.”
Cowboys Legend Dez Bryant on WNBA Drama
The remarks drew quick backlash from fans and commentators, who said Griffin’s comments added to a negative narrative around Reese.
Not everyone was on board with what Griffin had to say. One widely shared response came from Bryant: “Both girls are good in their own right.. Caitlin Clark is better than Angel Reese..but saying she hates her is wild. They are playing basketball.. bro. It was nothing more or less. You are helping create a negative narrative around Angel Reese..and I don’t respect it, respectfully. You know this is tied into race..and the way you’re playing it is wild. We gotta do better.”
Both girls are good in their own right.. Caitlin Clark is better than Angel Reese..but saying she hates her is wild. They are playing basketball.. bro. It was nothing more or less. You are helping create a negative narrative around Angel Reese..and I don't respect it,… https://t.co/UEfBtLQKb9
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant)
Clark and Reese, both standouts in college before joining the WNBA, have developed a competitive on-court rivalry. Clark is known for her scoring and playmaking. Reese has built her game on physicality and rebounding. Both are respected for their talent, though their matchups have often drawn heavy attention from the media and fans.
The tension peaked at Gainbridge Fieldhouse when Clark met Reese at the rim in the third quarter and delivered a hard shove, sending Reese to the floor.
Reese jumped up and moved toward Clark, but Fever center Aliyah Boston rushed in to break things up. Referees gave all three technical fouls. The moment set the tone for a game that turned physical and one-sided.
Officials first called it a common foul but upgraded it to a Flagrant 1 after review, saying the contact crossed the line of legal play.
In an interview with ESPN’s Holly Rowe, Clark defended the play, calling it a “good take foul” meant to keep Reese from getting easy points.
“It’s just a good take foul. You know, either Angel gets a wide-open two points, or we send them to the free-throw line. Nothing malicious about it. It’s just a good take foul. Every basketball player knows that,” Clark said.
Unfazed, Clark returned to form and finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, a triple-double to open the season. She became the fastest player in league history to notch three triple-doubles (41 games).
The incident and fallout have reignited discussions about how women’s basketball rivalries are portrayed, how race plays a role in sports narratives, and the responsibility commentators have in shaping public perception. Clark and Reese have said they’re focused on basketball, not off-court drama.
