Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and the ring thing

LSU star unapologetic about her end-of-game gesture to Iowa counterpart

LSU’s Angel Reese (10) points to her ring finger while Iowa’s Caitlin Clark looks away at the end of the Tigers’ 102-85 victory over Iowa in the NCAA women’s basketball championship game Sunday at Dallas. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

DALLAS — Caitlin Clark insisted that she was unaware. Angel Reese, meanwhile, was unapologetic.

In the wake of LSU’s 102-85 victory over Iowa in Sunday’s NCAA women’s basketball championship at American Airlines Center, a good chunk of the postgame press conference focused on Reese’s end-of-the-game action.

Reese advanced toward Clark, pointing her left finger toward her right ring finger. Clark zigged. Reese zagged, still pointing.

“Honestly, I have no idea (what Reese was doing),” Clark said. “I was just trying to get to the handshake line and shake hands and be grateful that my team was in that position.”

A reporter asked Reese — dubbed “Bayou Barbie” — postgame about the incident:

“Twitter is awash right now with outrage. You talked before about your personality and that you don’t care. I just wondered what it’s like to know that — I mean, so many people are talking about women’s basketball. Isn’t that a good thing?”

Reese responded:

“I’m happy. I mean, all year I was critiqued about who I was. Nobody — I don’t — the narrative, I don’t fit the narrative. I don’t fit in a box that y’all want me to be in. I’m too hood. I’m too ghetto. Y’all told me that all year.”

“But when other people do it, y’all say nothing. So this was for the girls that look like me, that (are) going to speak up on what they believe in. That’s what I did it for tonight. It was bigger than me tonight. It was bigger than me.

“Twitter is going to go on a rage every time, and I’m happy. I feel like I’ve helped grow women’s basketball this year. I’m super happy and excited. So I’m looking forward to celebrating in the next season.”

Reese, who transferred to LSU from Maryland after two seasons, was named Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four. Like Clark, she was first-team All-American this season.

“I’m sure she was really proud of her (championship),” Iowa Coach Lisa Bluder said. “And I would be really proud of my accomplishment if I made it, won the national championship, too.”

“We’re all different people, and we all have different ways to show our emotions.”

Clark was emotional on the podium Sunday, but complimentary to the victors.

“All the credit in the world to LSU. They were tremendous,” Clark said. “They deserve it. They had a tremendous season. Kim Mulkey coached them so, so well.

“She’s one of the best basketball coaches of all time, and it shows. She only said really kind things to me in the handshake line, so I’m very grateful to that, too.”

Reese had the final say on the court, and in the press room.

“I don’t care about anybody else and what they have to say about me. That’s the difference between me and a lot of people. I don’t,” she said. “The biggest goal for me is the national championship.

“I don’t care to be All-American. I don’t care to be defensive player of the year, player of the year. The biggest goal is to be a national champion, and that’s what I did.

“Twitter can say what Twitter can say. I love reading those comments. I have all the screenshots of what everybody has said about me all season. What are you going to say now.”

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