Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark have forever been locked in the same narrative ever since that fateful NCAA Finals moment in 2023. Reese’s LSU won after the whole country had been rooting for Clark’s Iowa and the rivalry, at least in fans’ minds, was born. Never mind that these two had been competing against each other for a very long time. Now, the Indiana Fever point guard is making it clear what is really the relationship between the two.

Reese has opened up on Clark on her podcast, Unapologetically Angel, before and revealed how she respects her former college rival. She also expressed a wish to play on the same team as her one day. And while CC did not reiterate quite the same sentiment, she did say of the media pitting them against each other in a latest exclusive with TIME magazine, “I don’t get that at all. We’re not best friends, by any means, but we’re very respectful of one another. Yes, we have had tremendous battles. But when have I ever guarded her? And when has she guarded me?”

The rivalry has left some confused, given the two don’t play the same positions. When asked about the ring gesture the former Tigers player made against Clark, the Iowa sensation said, “I didn’t think it was taunting. It really didn’t bother me. It’s just like, ‘Why don’t you talk about them winning? Or the incredible run that we went on that nobody would have thought we would have ever gone on?’ The only thing people cared about was this controversy that was really fabricated and made up, and then that has continued to be the case ever since.”

Then came the million-dollar question about the flagrant foul committed by Reese’s Chicago Sky teammate, Chennedy Carter, in a June game. While some said that the Sky forward had been cheering her teammate on at the moment, the Fever guard refused to believe it.

“I don’t even know if she really knew what happened. Honestly, I don’t think she was cheering because somebody hit me. I really don’t think that would be the case. I hope not.” 

It was one move in a series of plays and fouls seemingly made against Clark on purpose. The reason – jealousy at her newfound fame being a rookie when veterans had not received the same treatment from fans? Who knows?

Clark, at any rate, does not believe anyone else has a vendetta against her. “I never thought I was being targeted,” she told TIME. “Obviously, that shouldn’t ever happen within a game. But basketball is physical. Your emotions can get the best of you. My emotions have gotten the best of me many times.”