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The former first lady Michelle Obama weighs in on the WNBA rivalization between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese for the first time.
During a performance on the podcast “Al Smoke with Matt Barnes & Stephen Jackson” Obama spoke during a group discussion about the effect of the Clark-Reese drama on Wnba’s popularity, the impact on the players’ well-being and “hate” involved.
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Angel Reese, No. 5 of Chicago Sky, and Caitlin Clark, #22 by Indiana Fever, watches during the second half against Chicago Sky on June 23, 2024 at the WinTrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. (Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“I think the hard thing is the social media element in it. But it’s true everywhere. I mean we’ve talked about this on our show; it just takes a normal event. These young children today what to go through what they need to be able to resist because social media is such a big part of the world,” Obama said.
“There is hated. But now the hatred of your room, on your phone, with you all the time. And you can’t, for whatever reason, ask these kids to turn it off because they live by that way. I mean, now they are expected to stay engaged. So I think it gets even worse. But I think, as you point out, it happens in sports across gender. Perceptions.
Angel Reese accusing ghostly teammate of Caitlin Clark, Sophie Cunningham for Sex toy Fiasco: ‘Stay weird’
The former first lady in the United States Michelle Obama participates in opening night and celebrates ’50 years of equal pay ‘during the day one of the 2023 US Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium at Usta Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 28, 2023. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/GC pictures) (Photo by Jean Catuffe/GC pictures.)
The rivalry between Clark and Reese was renewed in their first match of the 2025 season on May 17. Clark’s Indiana Fever defeated Reese’s Chicago Sky 93-58, and Clark was called on an obvious mistake after a defensive game against Reese.
WNBA announced after the game that it would launch a study of alleged “racist” comments aimed at Reese, but could not substantiate the claims.
The two have not played each other since the 17th of May, as both have dealt with injuries throughout the season.
Chicago Sky Forward Angel Reese (5) responds after being buried by Indiana Fever Guard Caitlin Clark (22) in May; Michelle Obama speaks under the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, Tuesday, August 20, 2024. (Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Obama recently made headlines with another sports-related statement as she compared ESPN with reality TV during an episode of her brother’s podcast “IMO” in July.
“It’s all a sociological study. They think sports are better reality -tv, I’m like ‘it’s the same thing.’ If I listen to ESPN for an hour, it’s like watching ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’, you know? ‘ I mean, Stephen A. Smith, he’s like any other … “
