LSU legend and Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese recently celebrated the two-year anniversary of leading her Tigers to their first national championship in women’s basketball.
Angel Reese’s Dominant Performance
Reese took to social media to reflect on the win, writing, “Damn i won a natty 2 years ago today & it changed my life forever.”
damn i won a natty 2 years ago today & it changed my life forever
— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) April 3, 2025
Reese was a double-double machine in LSU’s national title winning season, and that didn’t change in their 102-85 victory over Iowa in the title game. Reese posted an impressive stat line of 15 points and 10 rebounds, was voted the Most Outstanding Player of the 2023 NCAA Women’s Tournament.
The game is most remembered for Reese taunting Iowa legend Caitlin Clark in the final moments and helping usher in a new rivalry for the WNBA. The days following that game—and the conversation around Reese’s taunt—sparked national debate and helped push women’s basketball into the mainstream sports spotlight.
Reese hasn’t been shy about her role in shaping today’s WNBA landscape. She’s been outspoken about how both she and Clark have helped bring in more fans and drive record-breaking attendance across the league.
Reese was drafted seventh overall by the Chicago Sky in the 2024 WNBA Draft, went on to become an All-Star, and set the league’s single-season rebounding record with 446 boards.
She’s not just a star on the court, either. Since winning the national title, Reese has been a fixture in pop culture. She’s the most followed player in the WNBA on Instagram with 4.6 million followers, signed a sponsorship deal with Reese’s, appeared in a Cardi B music video, and even launched her own meal at McDonald’s.
What If Iowa Had Won?
You have to wonder how different Reese’s life might look if Caitlin Clark and Iowa had won the national championship instead. Reese still would’ve gone to the WNBA, had a strong rookie season, and been a solid pro—but would she have become the cultural icon she is today?
And what about Clark? She was already a superstar by the time she finished college. A national championship could have pushed her into another stratosphere—maybe even cemented her as the greatest college athlete of all time.
An often overlooked fact about the rivalry between the two stars is that they met the following year in the Elite 8, where Clark and Iowa got their revenge via a 94-87 victory that sent them to their second consecutive Final Four. Iowa eventually fell in the national championship to South Carolina, as Clark put posted an impressive 30 point, 8 rebound, and 5 assist stat line.
One thing’s for sure: Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark are great for the WNBA. They’re going to draw huge crowds wherever they go, and their names will be linked for decades to come.