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WNBA rookie Angel Reese is calling out "racism" among the fanbase of fellow star player Caitlin Clark.
On an episode of her new podcast "Unapologetically Angel," Reese praised Clark as an "amazing player" but said "there's a lot of racism" among the Indiana Fever guard's fanbase.
"Caitlin is an amazing player and I've always thought she was an amazing player. We've been playing each other since high school," the Chicago Sky forward said on her podcast, per CBS Sports. "So I think it's really just the fans -- her fans, the Iowa fans, now the Indiana fans -- that are, like, they ride for her and I respect that, respectfully, but sometimes it's very disrespectful. I think there's a lot of racism when it comes to it and I don't believe she stands on any of that."
Reese said fans have sent her death threats, stalked her, and created AI pictures of her naked.
"But when it comes to death threats, like, I'm talking about people have come down to my address, following me home, it's come down to that," she said. "Multiple occasions, people have made AI pictures of me naked, literally. They have sent it to my family members. My family members are, like, uncles are sending it to me, like, 'Are you naked on Instagram?' It sucks to see that and it's really hard that I have to go through that, and now seeing other players even having to go through that."
The relationship between the two basketball stars was thrust into the spotlight during the 2023 NCAA Tournament championship game when LSU's Reese hit Iowa's Clark with the "you can't see me" gesture. The moment went viral and sparked debate about player taunts on social media.
Stardom has continued to follow Clark and Reese into the WNBA. Both have said they don't have any issues with each other off the court. During her podcast, Reese said she wishes the fans didn't take things so far because there's nothing but love and respect between her and Clark.
"At the end of the day, it's a game that we do both love, but there is no hate," Reese said.
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