FS1’s Skip Bayless insisted that Angel Reese’s comments after her second loss to Caitlin Clark in the WNBA showed her jealousy and bitterness toward her fellow rookie.
On Sunday, Reese and the Chicago Sky suffered a 91-83 loss to the Indiana Fever, with Clark’s 23-point performance, combined with nine assists and eight rebounds, leading the way. The loss was a sequel to their June 1 meeting, which Indiana won 71-70.
After the game, the former LSU star complained that the officiating favored the opponent. On Monday, Bayless attributed Reese’s reaction to her envy of Clark, who, in addition to winning 2-0 against her, continues to grow in popularity.
“I don’t think she wants to be the villain, but she’s the instigator,” Bayless said of Reese in Undisputed. ‘His later games of hers reek a little of jealousy and bitterness. That’s how I see it.’
Meanwhile, her co-hosts Keyshawn Johnson and Paul Pierce noted how Reese plays and talks “with an edge” after agreeing that the Sky rookie’s comments and playing style have made her the antagonist in their rivalry.
Skip Bayless Said Angel Reese ‘Reeks of Jealousy and Bitterness’ Toward Caitlin Clark
Although Reese had a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds, his play was highlighted with a flagrant 1 after hitting Clark in the head while driving to the basket in the third quarter. Reese’s comments after the game didn’t help his case, as he accused the officials of having “special whistles.”
“I think we were playing really hard,” Reese said. “I think we came up really hard a lot of times and we didn’t get a lot of calls.”
“And going back and looking at the film, I’ve seen a lot of calls that weren’t made,” he continued. “I guess some people got a special whistle.”
Speaking about Reese’s viral comments, Bayless continued to address the negativity of her tone and choice of words.
Clark won 2-0 against its college rival after the Fever downed the Sky 91-83 on Sunday.
The No. 1 overall pick recorded 23 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in the win.
After the match, Reese accused the referees of having a ‘special whistle’ that favored the opponent.
“It just seems very negative,” Bayless said. “You guys,” as if the media were against them. I don’t think the media is against him.
‘And when it says ‘special whistle,’ I gotta tell you, I’ve watched every single one of Caitlin’s games. There have been many times where she tries to dribble the ball down the court and runs into a very physical defender who just hits her. And they never call him.
“I don’t see a special whistle.”
Bayless then expanded on her point by addressing Chennedy Carter’s infamous body check on Clark on June 1, painting her the same way as her teammate.
“That Chennedy (Carter) play seemed bitter to me,” Bayless said. “She called her the word b and just went after her.”
Reese was charged with flagrant 1 after her failed blocking attempt hit Clark in the face.
After her first WNBA meeting, Reese quickly told members of the media that people watch women’s basketball “not just for one person (but) for me too.”
However, Bayless was quick to point out the difference between attendance at Reese’s and Clark’s games.
“Angel drew 4,000 (fans) and Caitlin drew 20,000,” Bayless noted. ‘It is a fact.’
‘I’m looking at what happened in these two losses, and Caitlin is over it. So she’s going to have to play better.”