Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark, and Chennedy Carter. Getty Images (3)
Angel Reese is pushing back on the idea that Caitlin Clark is being unfairly targeted by her fellow WNBA players — and made sure the world knows that she’s also a star.

Reese, 22, spoke to reporters on Monday, June 3, since the Chicago Sky’s loss to the Indiana Fever on Saturday, June 1. During that game, Reese’s teammate Chennedy Carter forcefully knocked Clark, 22, to the ground, sparking a debate about whether players are intentionally going after the former Iowa superstar.

“When we go out there and play super hard, compete every single day, it’s not personal,” Reese said on Monday. “I promise you it’s based off of our stories and where we’ve come from. We’ve come from so many places that you guys have never seen or would never understand, so just being able to go out there and play with that chip on our shoulder every single night, that’s just what we do and that’s just who we are.”

Reese also pushed back on the narrative that Clark is solely responsible for the recent popularity of women’s basketball.

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“I think so many people are watching women’s basketball right now. It all started from the [2023] national championship game,” Reese said, referring to the game where her LSU Tigers defeated Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes. “I’ve been dealing with this for two years now. And understanding, like, yeah negative things have probably been said about me, but honestly, I’ll take that, because look where women’s basketball is. … I’ll take that role. I’ll take the bad guy role, and I’ll continue to take that on and be that for my teammates, and I know I’ll go down in history.”

She continued: “I’ll look back in 20 years and be like, ‘Yeah, the reason why we’re watching women’s basketball is not just because of one person, it’s because of me too.’ And I want y’all to realize that. Like it’s just not ’cause of one person. A lot of us have done so much for this game. Chennedy has been here before obviously, but there are so many great players in this league that have deserved this for a really, really long time, and luckily, it’s coming now.”

Caitlin Clark of the Iowa Hawkeyes and Angel Reese of the LSU Tigers during the finals of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament – Albany Regional on April 1, 2024. Andy Lyons/Getty Images
After Carter’s foul against Clark on Saturday, Reese was spotted jumping up from the Sky’s bench and clapping her hands. After the game, Reese refused to speak to the media and was fined $1,000 for making herself unavailable. Her team was also fined an additional $5,000 for her absence.

Carter, meanwhile, spoke to the press but declined to answer questions about Clark. On Monday, Carter said that she was happy she chose to wait to share her thoughts because “heat of the moment answering is not probably the best answer.”

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Carter, 25, also denied that she had crossed a “line” with her foul on Clark.

“There’s no line,” she told reporters. “I’m competing. I’m gonna compete. I’ve already let you know, I’m gonna compete. If you’re going to throw punches first, I’m gonna compete. It’s all love. It’s basketball. This happens in the NBA. Actually, I’m focused on [our game against] New York now. I’m not really focused on that play anymore. It happened, OK? It’s just basketball. It just happened. It’s over. I don’t know why we’re dragging [it out].”

Girls basketball: Sterling’s Madison Austin commits to Illinois State

Aug. 9—After receiving about 18 offers, Sterling senior Madison Austin made her college decision official on Thursday.

Austin verbally committed to continue her academic and basketball careers at Illinois State University in Normal. She plans to sign her National Letter of Intent in November.

Austin said she felt the NCAA Division-I Redbirds were a fit after attending a team camp and visit in June. She said Bowling Green and Northern Illinois were two other finalists.

“The thing that really stuck out for me at Illinois State was the feeling and sense of being home,” she said. “The coaches are just really welcoming, and all the players are welcoming. It was just a great experience.”

Her twin sister, Kate, also will attend ISU and plans to be a manager for the basketball team.

Staying home! #committed #rollbirds pic.twitter.com/X3vYYsdpwN

— Madison Austin (@madisonoaustin) August 8, 2024

Austin, a 6-foot-3 power forward, also is a talented swimmer and has participated in track and field.

She started playing basketball her freshman year and believes she still has lots of room for growth.

She averaged 12 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks a game as a junior. She was an Illinois Basketball Coaches Association special mention All-State pick in Class 3A, as well as an All-Western Big 6 Conference second-team selection.

“I’m pretty versatile, so they are just excited to keep developing me,” Austin said of what the coaches said of her. “And I have not reached my full potential yet.”

Austin said the environment and community helped make Illinois State her pick. Being a couple of hours from home and her friends and family also was a factor.

Illinois State, coached by Kristen Gillespie, went 22-12 last year and finished third in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Austin said putting in the work with her team in high school and in the offseason was big for her development. She played with Example Sports AAU, where she trained with 6-foot-5 United Township grad Lorena Awou, a freshman at North Carolina State, and Davenport North senior Divine Bourrage and Whitney Young’s Destiny Jackson, two of the top players in their class.

“It was great to play with girls that have the same goal of college basketball,” Austin said. “Just pushing each other and giving each other feedback and helping each other improve, no matter what.”

“We are so excited about Madison’s commitment to ISU,” Sterling coach Taylor Jackson said. “She has put in an incredible amount of time and effort to make this happen. She is a player that loves the game and the gym, and is willing to be pushed to continue to improve. ISU will be a great fit for her. Their coaching staff is amazing and she will continue to thrive. And we are excited to get to watch her play.”

Austin’s older brother, Lucas, also was a standout basketball player. He’s headed into his freshman year as a lineman on the West Virginia football team. Her dad, Jason, played college basketball, and her mom, Karina, played soccer at North Park University.

Committing to a team before her senior year starts has provided some peace of mind for Austin as she continues to improve her game.

“I’m really excited,” she said, “just to get to learn more about the program and team as I get ready for my freshman year there.”

After a great team camp and visit at Illinois State, I am excited to have received an offer to further my academic and athletic career from @RedbirdWBB ! Thanks for a great experience!! @CoachKGillespie @SGBasketball5 @CoachDCole @CoachMRobinson1 @CoachTri_ pic.twitter.com/jV6IBkKsNa