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Former first lady Michelle Obama intervened in the rivalry of the WNBA between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese for the first time.
During an appearance in the “All The Smoke with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson”, Obama spoke during a group discussion about the impact of Clark-Rese’s drama on the popularity of the WNBA, the impact on the well-being and “hatred” of the players involved.
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Angel Reese, #5 of the Chicago Sky, and Caitlin Clark, #22 of Indiana’s fever, observe during the second half against the sky of Chicago on June 23, 2024, in Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. (Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire through Getty Images)
“I think the difficult thing is the element of social networks. But that is true in all areas. I mean, we have talked about this in our program; only takes a normal fact. These young children today, what they have to happen, what they have to resist, because social networks are a large part of the world,” Obama said.
“There is hate. But now hate is in your room, on your phone, with you all the time. And you can’t, for any reason, tell these children to spend it, because they are making a living that way. I mean, now they are expected to stay committed. Then, I think that makes it feel even worse. But I think, as he points out, that is happening in sports in genre.
Angel Reese Broad to his teammate of Caitlin Clark, Sophie Cunningham for the sex toy fiasco: ‘Get weird’
The former first lady of the United States, Michelle Obama attends the opening night, celebrating ’50 years of equal payment ‘during the first day of the Open of US 2023 at the Arthur Ashe Stadium at the National Center for National Tennis Usta Billie Jean King on August 28, 2023. (Photo of Jean Catuffe/GC Images) (Photo by Jean Catuffe/GC images.)
The rivalry between Clark and Reese was renewed in his first game of the 2025 season on May 17. Indiana de Clark’s fever defeated Reese’s Chicago Sky 93-58, and Clark was called to a flagrant foul after a defensive play against Reese.
The WNBA announced after the game that it would launch an investigation into the alleged “racist” comments aimed at Reese, but could not corroborate the accusations.
The two have not been played since that game of May 17, since both have dealt with injuries throughout the season.
Chicago’s striker, Angel Reese (5), reacts after he becomes the fever of Indiana Caitlin Clark (22) in May; Michelle Obama speaks during the National Democratic Convention (DNC) at United Center in Chicago, Illinois, on Tuesday, August 20, 2024. (Getty images)
Meanwhile, Obama recently reached the headlines with another opinion related to sports, when he compared ESPN with reality television during an episode of his brother “Imo” in July.
“Everything is a sociological study. They think that sports are better reality shows, I’m like, ‘it’s the same.’ If I hear ESPN for an hour, it’s like seeing the ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’, you know?” Obama said. “It is the same drama, and they shout at each other, and they don’t get along, you know? I want to say, Stephen A. Smith, he is like any other …”.
