Angel Reese found herself defending her reputation this week, but the drama had nothing to do with her play on the court. The Chicago Sky star got pulled into a social media mess when former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III claimed that someone in her inner circle told him she “hates” Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark. Reese fired back hard, calling it a desperate grab for attention and making one thing crystal clear: whoever Griffin talked to doesn’t speak for her.
Why Did Robert Griffin III Drag Angel Reese Into This Drama?
Reese responded strongly after Griffin claimed people close to her said she “hates Caitlin Clark.” The former Washington Commanders quarterback made the comment on his X account while defending himself from criticism over his past WNBA commentary. Reese quickly shut down the claim, calling it a clout-chasing move.
Posting on X, the 23-year-old wrote, “Lying on this app when everybody know the first and last name of everybody in my circle for clout is nastyyyy work.” She made it clear that no one from her trusted group would make such a statement and warned against spreading false narratives online.
lying on this app when everybody know the first and last name of everybody in my circle for clout is nastyyyy work.
— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) July 10, 2025
Griffin replied with a clear message of his own. “I spoke up in support of Angel Reese against racism not to start drama,” he posted. “But I won’t let anyone twist the truth just because it’s inconvenient to them. Instead of trying to check me, just tighten up your circle. They calling me and saying you hate Caitlin Clark, not the other way around.” The former Heisman Trophy winner said he had “zero interest in being the villain” and that he simply “wants to have fun, tell the truth and celebrate sports.”
I spoke up in support of Angel Reese against racism not to start drama. But I won’t let anyone twist the truth just because it’s inconvenient to them. Instead of trying to check me, just tighten up your circle. They calling me and saying you hate Caitlin Clark, not the other way…
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) July 10, 2025
However, Reese’s family wasn’t having any of it. Her mom also shut down Griffin’s claim, writing on X, “Whomever you say called you is not in her circle to speak on her feelings.” She made it clear that any suggestion of drama between her daughter and Clark is baseless and driven by outside noise.
Man stop with the 🧢 My daughter’s “circle” is so small & tight so I’d be interested 2 know who called U 🤔 Whomever U say “called” U is not in her circle 2 speak on her feelings towards a media/fandom made up beef. Just stay on that side bc the doors are closed over here
— AngelReese(TheMom) (@awebbreese) July 10, 2025
How Does Social Media Amplify the Reese-Clark Rivalry?
The back-and-forth adds even more heat to one of the biggest rivalries in sports right now. Reese and Clark haven’t said anything negative about each other directly, but everything they do gets massive attention. Fans, the media, and even other athletes watch closely and talk about it, which makes the drama even bigger.
This situation shows how different things are now compared to past WNBA rivalries. Years ago, stars like Lisa Leslie and Lauren Jackson had big rivalries, too, but social media makes things louder and faster. More people are watching, and their opinions change quickly as the drama grows.
The situation has gained traction due to the current rise in WNBA popularity. According to Nielsen data from 2024, WNBA games saw a 156% increase in viewership from the previous year, with Sky vs. Fever matchups drawing millions of impressions across platforms. However, since Clark got injured, the numbers have dropped drastically to 55% nationally.
What Do the Numbers Say About Reese and Clark’s Impact?
Beyond the social media drama, both players continue to put up solid numbers on the court. Reese, who won a national championship with Louisiana State University in 2023, is averaging 13.3 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in 19 games this season for Chicago. Meanwhile, Clark, the NCAA all-time scoring leader, leads the Fever with 17.4 points, 8.6 assists, and 5.0 rebounds in 10 games this season.
Their performances on court remain a central topic, but now social media is pulling focus from basketball to personality-driven narratives.
The media coverage has made the story bigger, and now many people are talking about it. No one knows if Reese and Clark really have a problem with each other, but fans and the media keep discussing it. Every game they play or post they make gets more attention than usual.
As the 2024-25 WNBA season continues, people will be watching to see what happens next, whether they compete on the court or address the situation off it. This story might calm down or get even bigger, but everyone knows one thing: people are watching and waiting to see how it all plays out.
